The announcement of the T20 Blast fixtures for the year 2025 marks a significant milestone in the world of English cricket, particularly for women’s teams. It is a historic moment as women’s teams have officially been granted “full alignment” with the men’s game. This integration represents a crucial step towards gender equality in sports, showcasing the growing recognition and support for women’s cricket.
The upcoming season will feature an impressive slate of 52 double-header matches involving both men’s and women’s teams playing back-to-back. Notably, this means that all 18 first-class counties in England will host at least one of these exciting fixtures. The commencement of the season, designated as the Blast-Off weekend, is scheduled to kick off on Thursday, May 29, 2025. This coordinated effort serves to elevate the profile of women’s cricket while also energizing fan engagement through the scheduling of these simultaneous matches.
Adding further excitement, the Kia Oval will serve as the venue for the inaugural Women’s Finals Day on Sunday, July 27, 2025. This is a noteworthy addition to the calendar, highlighting the increasing prominence of the women’s game. In contrast, the Men’s Finals Day will take place shortly after, on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Edgbaston—a venue that will have hosted this event 17 times out of the 23-year history of the T20 format, and for the 13th consecutive year.
In a strategic rebranding move, the team associated with Edgbaston will now simply be known as the Bears, signifying a potential return to the traditional name of Warwickshire, as the team has previously competed under the Birmingham Bears banner for over a decade. This change reflects a seamless integration of identity within the evolving context of T20 cricket.
The defending men’s champions, Gloucestershire, are set to begin their title defense with a home match against Kent at their home ground in Bristol on Friday, May 30, 2025. Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire’s women’s team will retain their name, The Blaze, following their victory over South East Stars in the Charlotte Edwards Cup final last June. The Blaze will also initiate their campaign on May 30 against the Bears in a tantalizing double-header event at Trent Bridge.
The season’s opening matches will feature Lancashire, the winners from 2015, taking on Worcestershire in Manchester, while Lord’s will host a clash between Middlesex and Sussex. This demonstrates a well-thought-out structure for the tournament, ensuring that fans across multiple venues will have the opportunity to witness high-stakes cricket.
The organizational structure of the tournament further details how the teams are divided. In the Men’s competition, the North Group includes teams such as the Bears, Derbyshire Falcons, and Yorkshire Vikings. In contrast, the South Group comprises teams like Essex and Surrey. The Women’s competition follows a similar division, while the Blast Women’s League 2 sees the North and South Groups each fielding an array of teams set to compete.
Overall, the T20 Blast fixtures for 2025 embodies a pivotal shift in the structure of county cricket. It reflects an ongoing commitment to fostering the growth of women’s cricket, fortifying its alignment with the men’s game, and providing fans with more opportunities than ever to engage with the sport they love. This represents not just a scheduling change but a cultural shift in how cricket is perceived and played in England, paving the way for future generations of male and female cricketers.
