The series in the Caribbean next April was set to include ODIs, T20Is and a one-off historic Test match. However, the red-ball game has now been scrapped, with England set to play three ODIs and three T20Is only during the tour.

An ECB statement cited "insufficient time to accomodate the Test match," with the series already set to overlap with the start of the English county season.

This is the second women's Test match in succession to be cancelled in the Caribbean, after the scheduled Test between West Indies and Australia was scrapped earlier this year.

It was reported last month that the ECB may offer funding to Cricket West Indies in order for the Test match to go ahead. CWI CEO Chris Dehring told Wisden Women's Cricket Weekly podcast: "Any assistance that the ECB might be willing to help offset costs of hosting these kinds of tournaments would be most welcome, because we do want to play more and more women's Test cricket... We intend to play that Test match and, you know, hopefully we'll be able to find the resources to accomplish that."

However, it is understood that financial pressures were not behind the ECB's decision to pull out of the game. England Women head coach Charlotte Edwards expressed the need for more red-ball exposure for players ahead of the Ashes. The Test match is worth four points in the multi-format Ashes, giving a considerable scoreline boost to the side who wins it. England have not won an Ashes Test match since 2013, and were soundly beaten by India at Lord's this summer.

Instead of the Test match against the West Indies, that Ashes preparation will now consist of three 'best v best' red ball games in England during the summer, as well as a three-day match against Australia A in the run-up to the Ashes Test. There will also be a 10-day red-ball skill camp in India in January next year.

A statement from ECB CEO Richard Gould read: “A 10-day warm-weather red-ball camp in India followed by four further matches in English conditions will provide Charlotte Edwards and her team with the appropriate game time to be ready for that [Ashes Test match] challenge.

“Best versus best in English conditions provides a valuable opportunity for the team. It also allows us to assess our strength in depth, give opportunities to more players and get a number of competitive multi-day cricket matches across a longer period into the wider group.

“We appreciate the constructive conversations with Cricket West Indies that have enabled us to look forward to an exciting tour of the Caribbean before focusing our attentions back on our home summer.”