No 2027 Ashes Tests in north of England
- Headingley in Leeds and Manchester’s Old Trafford have both staged some of the most dramatic clashes in the long history of Ashes cricket
The 2027 Ashes series will not feature matches in northern England, excluding historic venues like Headingley and Old Trafford, a decision that has drawn significant criticism.
- Historical Ashes moments at northern grounds.
- Criticism of the venue decision from prominent figures.
- The complete 2027 Ashes fixture list and new venues.
- Future Ashes Tests planned for northern grounds.
LONDON: There will be no Ashes matches in the north of England when Australia arrive for the 2027 edition of Test cricket’s oldest rivalry.
Headingley in Leeds and Manchester’s Old Trafford have both staged some of the most dramatic clashes in the long history of Ashes cricket.
Don Bradman, arguably cricket’s greatest batsman, scored two triple centuries at Headingley during the 1930s.
Both grounds played host to remarkable individual feats by England hero Ian Botham during the 1981 Ashes series.
Headingley was also the venue for a remarkable unbeaten century by England’s Ben Stokes in a one-wicket win during the 2019 series.
But both grounds have been left off the schedule for the 2027 Ashes – a decision criticised by new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, then the mayor of Greater Manchester – when it was announced in 2023.
Former England captain Michael Atherton, responding to Thursday’s announcement by the England and Wales Cricket Board of the fixture list for next year’s Ashes, wrote in The Times: “What a time to be snubbing the north.
“Just as a professional northerner (Burnham) moves into No 10 (Downing Street), and promises to shift some of the machinery of government to the north, the ECB has announced that there will be no men’s Ashes Test match next year in the region,” added Atherton.
All five matches will be restricted to the Midlands and south of England.
Hampshire’s Rose Bowl, near Southampton, will stage its first Ashes Test from July 21 – the fourth of the series. It will become the 10th ground in the United Kingdom to stage a men’s Ashes Test.
The series will start at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on June 18, with Lord’s – as is traditional – staging the second Test on June 30 and Edgbaston in Birmingham the third on July 8.
The Ashes will conclude at the Oval in south London from July 29.
Old Trafford and Headingley are both set to stage Ashes Tests in 2031.
Australia triumphed 4-1 on home soil during the 2025/26 Ashes. The last Ashes series in England ended in a 2-2 draw in 2023.
England’s last Ashes series success was a 3-2 home victory in 2015.
England are also due to play a one-off Test against Bangladesh at Lord’s from May 28.
The 2027 World Test Championship final will be held at the Oval starting on June 9, the second time the venue has hosted the title match.
England will also play 10 one-day internationals – five each at home to New Zealand and Pakistan – as part of their preparations for the 2027 50-over World Cup in southern Africa.
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