England Lions to face South Africa in three-day tour match at Worcester

By PA Sport

Image: The ECB has announced a programme of eight tour matches to be played in 2017 by South Africa and West Indies

England Lions will face South Africa in a three-day tour match at Worcester before next summer's Investec Test series.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has announced a programme of eight tour matches to be played in 2017 by South Africa and West Indies.

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The Lions' fixture against South Africa between June 29 and July 1 will the highest-profile, scheduled to end five days before the start of the first Test at Lord's.

South Africa's three other tour fixtures will be two 50-over contests - against Sussex and then Northamptonshire on May 19 and 21, before a three-match one-day international series - and then a provisional Twenty20 warm-up against Leicestershire on June 18.

Image: England Lions will face South Africa in a three-day tour match at Worcester before next summer's Test series

That match will be cancelled if South Africa reach the final of the ICC Champions Trophy.

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In the second half of the summer, West Indies will have three three-day tour matches in early August - initially while the England-South Africa Test series is ongoing - against Essex, Kent and Derbyshire.

They will then play a two-day match between their own second and third Tests on September 2 and 3 at Grace Road, where their opponents will be Leicestershire - or an ECB XI, should the county team be involved in that same weekend's NatWest Blast T20 finals day at Edgbaston.

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One-Day International Cricket

West Indies will warm up for the limited-overs leg of their tour of England with a one-off ODI against Ireland on September 13 - the venue for which is yet to be confirmed.

England Lions will also take on South Africa A in a three-match ODI series in early June at Trent Bridge and concluding with the final two fixtures in Northampton.

Image: South Africa will also play T20 warm-up match against Leicestershire on June 18

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said: "We're very pleased to have agreed such a comprehensive touring programme for 2017 - a schedule which will provide fans with even more opportunities to see two international teams in action at county grounds; and help our Lions players test themselves against high quality opposition in both red and white-ball cricket.

"With this country also hosting the ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC Women's World Cup next season, 2017 promises to be a hugely exciting summer of cricket - and a strong platform to promote our sport to an even wider and more diverse audience."

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