England’s Edgbaston test against New Zealand will be played in front of 18,000 fans

The Government have added Royal Ascot and the second Test of England’s series against New Zealand at Edgbaston to their list of pilot events where bigger crowds will be allowed than are currently permitted under stage three of the post-lockdown roadmap. 

Next month’s Test between England and New Zealand will welcome around 18,000 fans each day after being selected as the first of the government’s latest test events. 

Currently, outdoor venues are only permitted to be at 25% capacity, or 10,000 spectators, but the stadium will be 70% full for the match against the Black Caps when it takes place between 10-14 June. 

The game will be played 11 days before Freedom Day when government hopes to lift all social distancing on June 21.

Edgbaston will welcome 18,000 fans each day for the second test against New Zealand

In addition, 12,000 spectators will be admitted each day to Royal Ascot from June 15 to 19. 

Stuart Cain, stadium chief executive, said in a statement: ‘Edgbaston is unique as a cricket venue in having such a large stadium footprint, but we also have a vastly experienced operational delivery team, which has hosted many major events and a spectator pilot last summer. 

‘We have always been hopeful of featuring in the pilot programme and are delighted for the thousands of ticket holders who will now be able to attend.’

The new pilots will be added to plans for 20,000 fans to attend England’s first two games of Euro 2020 at Wembley, with the Government eager to see the impact of bigger crowds on multi-day events. 

The Government have added Royal Ascot to the list of pilot events to allow in bigger crowds

The initial phase of the mass events pilots staged earlier this month went well — particularly at Wembley, with the 40,000 fans attending the FA Cup final, semi-final and Carabao Cup final not producing a single positive test for Covid-19 between them.

Of the 58,000 people who attended events across the sport and entertainment industry there were just 15 Covid cases, with only four positives emerging from the 17 days of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield despite it being staged indoors at the Crucible Theatre.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden expressed hope on Tuesday that capacity crowds could be allowed at some venues after June 21. But Sportsmail has been told that Wembley will have to operate with restrictions for all of the Euros.

The FA are working towards a best-case scenario of 50 per cent capacity for England’s final group game on June 22 and the knockout stages, with full crowds limited to grounds with capacities of 30,000 and under. 

The second Test of England’s series against New Zealand at Edgbaston has also been included