The 1986 English cricket season saw Essex win the County Championship for the third time in four seasons. New Zealand and India toured England to compete in a test series with New Zealand beating England 1-0 and India winning 2-0.
The Zimbabwe national cricket team made a short visit to England and played a single limited overs match against Northamptonshire, the county winning by 7 wickets.
The Rest of the World XI played a one-day versus a West Indies XI for the Sport Aid charity at Edgbaston cricket ground in Birmingham. The match was a no result due to rain.