England have avoided defending champions Australia and world number one-ranked side India in the group-stage draw for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Harry Brook’s side will face a group that includes co-hosts South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and a qualifier.
The result is a fortunate one for England, who won the trophy in 2019 and will now enter the knockout stages with a slightly easier route than they might otherwise have had. The draw placed India and Pakistan together in the same group, alongside Australia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and a qualifier, leaving England free of those three heavyweights.
Group Breakdown
There are two groups of six teams each, with the top three plus the best fourth-placed finisher from each group progressing to the Super 7 stage. From there, the top four teams qualify for the semi-finals, which are scheduled for 17 and 18 November, before the final on 21 November in Johannesburg.
England’s group begins in Windhoek, Namibia, where they start their campaign against Bangladesh on 8 October and Sri Lanka on 13 October. They then travel to Gqeberha for a match against South Africa on 16 October, before heading to Harare to face a qualifier on 20 October. The group stage concludes with a match against New Zealand in Gqeberha on 23 October.
The full schedule runs as follows:
- England vs Bangladesh, 8 October, Windhoek, Namibia
- England vs Sri Lanka, 13 October, Windhoek, Namibia
- England vs South Africa, 16 October, Gqeberha
- England vs a qualifier, 20 October, Harare
- England vs New Zealand, 23 October, Gqeberha
Avoiding the Heavyweights
The avoidance of Australia and India is the story of this draw. Both teams are among the favourites to win the tournament, with Australia defending the title and India ranked number one in the world. England will not face either of them until the knockout stages, assuming both reach that far.
The draw also means England will not face Pakistan in the group stage. That trio — Australia, India and Pakistan — are the three teams most likely to dominate the early rounds, and England have managed to keep clear of all three.
A Familiar Pairing
India and Pakistan are once again placed in the same group. The two sides have a long history in the game, and while they play each other regularly in tournaments, they do not meet outside of them.
Their match in the group stage takes place in Johannesburg on 10 October. The 2023 final between the two sides will also be replayed in Cape Town on 7 October, when India and Australia face each other to open the tournament.
The Zimbabwe Trip
England’s trip to Zimbabwe is significant. The last time they played there was in 2004, and relations between the two countries have been strained for much of the past two decades.
Throughout the 2000s, political unrest in Zimbabwe under the regime of former president Robert Mugabe caused problems for England’s men’s team. England boycotted their fixture against Zimbabwe in Harare at the 2003 World Cup, a decision which ultimately derailed their campaign.
Relations have improved in recent years, however. In 2025, BBC Sport reported that the two cricket boards were discussing a potential England tour of the country in the next cycle of international cricket between 2027 and 2031.
The Qualifiers
The group stage will open with a repeat of the 2023 final when India and Australia face each other in Cape Town on 7 October. After three matches to decide the final two qualifiers, the tournament gets underway.
England’s group includes a qualifier, as does India’s. The source states that three matches decided the final two qualifiers.
What It Means
Avoiding Australia and India gives England a clearer path through the group stage. Both teams are strong enough to dominate their own groups, and England will not have to deal with the defending champions or the world number one until later in the tournament.
The group itself is still strong. South Africa are co-hosts, Bangladesh have shown improvement in the limited-overs format, Sri Lanka remain a competitive side, and New Zealand are always dangerous. But none of them carries the weight of Australia or India.
England’s resurgence in the 50-over format has been notable. The source describes Brook’s side as enjoying a resurgence in the format, and avoiding the top two teams in the world gives them a chance to build momentum through the early rounds.
The trip to Zimbabwe is also a diplomatic opportunity. England have not played there since 2004, and the boycott at the 2003 World Cup remains a sore point. A tour in the next cycle would help heal that wound, and the fact that discussions have already taken place suggests both boards are serious about rebuilding the relationship.
The Numbers
- Group stage starts: 7 October, with India vs Australia in Cape Town
- England’s first match: 8 October vs Bangladesh in Windhoek, Namibia
- England’s second match: 13 October vs Sri Lanka in Windhoek, Namibia
- England’s third match: 16 October vs South Africa in Gqeberha
- England’s fourth match: 20 October vs a qualifier in Harare
- England’s fifth match: 23 October vs New Zealand in Gqeberha
- Semi-finals: 17 and 18 November
- Final: 21 November in Johannesburg
The Bottom Line
England have been handed a fair draw. Avoiding Australia and India is a bonus, not a guarantee, but it removes two of the hardest obstacles from the early stages of the tournament.
The group is competitive, but manageable. England will need to perform consistently across all five matches to reach the Super 7 stage, and the schedule means they will be tested in different conditions across Windhoek, Gqeberha and Harare.
The qualifier in Harare carries some uncertainty. The source does not specify which team England will face, and depending on the outcome of the qualification series, England could meet a side they have never encountered before. That unknown is part of what makes the draw interesting.
For now, the focus is on the group stage. England begin in Windhoek on 8 October, and the first test will be against Bangladesh. From there, the road to the knockout stages runs through South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
England avoided Australia and India in the draw, and that is a good thing. But the real test comes when the games begin.
Source material: “England avoid Australia & India in World Cup draw,” the BBC.
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