England can prepare to pack cricket bags for winter tours

England are due to face three different opponents over the winter, with tours to face India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka lined up.

It has been announced that the first time the national team's players will pack their cricket bags is ahead of a one-day series against India, which starts in Hyderabad on October 4th.

Alastair Cook will lead the limited-overs side in five one-day matches, before Stuart Broad takes over for a solitary Twenty20 international in Kolkata.

The next stop is the United Arab Emirates, where England will play three Tests, four one-day internationals and three Twenty20 fixtures against Pakistan – who are playing home matches away from their country for security reasons.

Finally, Andrew Strauss will lead the Test team again in Sri Lanka, for two matches that start in March.

The winter largely mirrors this summer of action at home, with England currently entertaining the Sri Lankans and waiting to face India.