Joe Root, Harry Brook and former England opener Mark Butcher have all voiced their displeasure at the fact that the 2027 men’s Ashes series will not feature a Test match in the north of England. The venues for the upcoming five‑Test showdown with Australia were announced last month, and none of the selected grounds lies north of Nottingham’s Trent Bridge, which will host the opening match. The traditional trio of Lord’s, Edgbaston and the Kia Oval have all been retained for the 2027 itinerary, while a brand‑new venue – the Utilita Bowl in Southampton – will host a men’s Ashes Test for the first time.
By contrast, two of the country’s most iconic northern stadiums, Headingley in Leeds and Old Trafford in Manchester, have been omitted from this year’s schedule. The decision has sparked a wave of criticism from players, commentators and supporters alike. Butcher, speaking to Sky Sports, questioned why two historic grounds have been left out of a series that is marketed as a national event meant to reach fans across the whole country.
"I think anyone – even a die‑hard Hampshire supporter – would recognise that in a sport like cricket, and especially in a marquee contest such as The Ashes, the game needs to be presented as something for everyone. That means there must be representation from the north," Butcher said.
"Whether that representation comes in the form of Headingley or Old Trafford is a matter for the accountants and the scheduling committee to decide." He went on to describe the omission as "extraordinary" and "bizarre," noting that the only northern venue on the 2027 list is Trent Bridge. "I have a personal fondness for Headingley and Old Trafford from my playing days, and both grounds carry a huge amount of Ashes history. The Utilita Bowl simply doesn’t have that legacy," he added.
England’s recent record at Headingley has been impressive – the team have won all seven of their last Tests there, including a dominant innings‑and‑103‑runs victory over Pakistan earlier this week. Root, England’s captain, argued that the side’s success at the Leeds ground should be a factor in future scheduling decisions and suggested that players ought to have a voice in the process. "I would love to play as many matches as possible at Headingley," Root told Sky Sports on Friday. "It’s a superb venue that offers a surface conducive to high‑quality Test cricket, and we’ve enjoyed a lot of success there recently.
It’s a shame we won’t be back next year, but I’m confident we’ll see many more great Tests at this ground in the future." He acknowledged that the English cricket board operates under a different system from its Australian counterpart, but still felt that player input should be considered. "I know my role is to stay in my lane and respect the decisions of the administrators, but as a player you naturally want to compete at the grounds where you feel most comfortable and have a track record of success.
Headingley is certainly one of those places for me," Root said. The omission of a northern venue also affects the women’s game. England Women will face Australia in a Test at Headingley as part of a multi‑format series next summer, yet the ground will not host another men’s Ashes Test after this year’s clash with Pakistan until at least 2029. Looking further ahead, both Old Trafford and Headingley have been earmarked for an Ashes Test in 2031, while Edgbaston and the Utilita Bowl will miss out that year.
Nevertheless, Brook expressed disappointment that the 2027 edition will lack a northern match. When asked about his feelings on the matter, Brook replied, "Slightly disappointed, to be honest. We’ve had a tremendous amount of success at Headingley in Test cricket. Going back to 2019, when Ben Stokes played that unforgettable innings, and the recent 2023 Ashes win, the venue has been a key part of our story.
I love batting there; it’s one of my favourite grounds. The absence of a northern Test is a let‑down, but those decisions are made by the hierarchy, not by us as players." The full schedule for the 2027 Ashes is as follows (all times are UK and Ireland local): - First Test: Friday 18 June – Tuesday 22 June, 11:00 am – Trent Bridge, Nottingham - Second Test: Wednesday 30 June – Sunday 4 July, 11:00 am – Lord’s, London - Third Test: Thursday 8 July – Monday 12 July, 11:00 am – Edgbaston, Birmingham - Fourth Test: Wednesday 21 July – Sunday 25 July, 11:00 am – Utilita Bowl, Southampton - Fifth Test: Thursday 29 July – Monday 2 August, 11:00 am – The Kia Oval, London The series will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming options available via NOW without a contract. The controversy surrounding the lack of a northern venue highlights the ongoing debate about regional representation in English cricket and the balance between tradition, commercial considerations and player preferences.