Cricket: Six Tests for West Indies

ENGLAND are to break new ground by staging a six-Test home series against the West Indies next summer.

The West Indies have never played more than five Tests on previous visits to this country but, next year, they will emulate recent Australian tours by playing six Tests and three Texaco Trophy one-day internationals.

'It has been done largely for financial reasons,' Tim Lamb, a Test and County Cricket Board spokesman, said.

It means, though, that Sri Lanka will not play a Test in England next year. They have been given one-off matches at the end of the last three West Indian tours.

WEST INDIES (1995 Tour to England) International fixtures: First Test: Headingley, starting 8 June. Second Test: Lord's, 22 June. Third Test: Edgbaston, 6 July. Fourth Test: Old Trafford, 27 July. Fifth Test: Trent Bridge, 10 August. Sixth Test: The Oval, 24 August. One-day internationals: Trent Bridge, 24 May; The Oval, 26 May; Lord's, 28 May.