Joe Root, Harry Brook and former England opener Mark Butcher have all voiced their displeasure that the 2027 men’s Ashes series will not feature a Test match in the northern part of the country. The venues for the 2027 Ashes against Australia were announced last month, and none of the five selected grounds lies north of Trent Bridge in Nottingham, which will host the opening Test. The traditional venues of Lord’s, Edgbaston and the Kia Oval were confirmed as returning hosts, while the Utilita Bowl in Southampton will stage a men’s Ashes Test for the first time. By contrast, two of the most iconic northern grounds – Headingley in Leeds and Old Trafford in Manchester – have been omitted from the schedule.
The exclusion of a northern venue has sparked a wave of criticism from players, commentators and supporters. Butcher, speaking to Sky Sports, questioned why two historic stadiums have been left out. “Anyone who isn’t a die‑hard Hampshire fan can see that in a sport like cricket, and especially in a marquee series such as the Ashes, the game should be marketed as a national event. That means it needs representation from all regions, and a match in the north is essential,” he said.
“Whether that’s Headingley or Old Trafford is a decision for the accountants, or whoever’s turn it is, but it feels wrong to ignore the north.” He added, “It’s extraordinary that there will be no Ashes cricket north of Trent Bridge next year. It’s bizarre.” Butcher also highlighted his personal connections to the venues. “I have a special affinity for Headingley and Old Trafford from my playing days. Both grounds carry a huge amount of Ashes history, whereas the Utilita Bowl does not have that legacy.” England’s recent record at Headingley underscores the disappointment.
The team have won all seven of their most recent Tests at the Leeds ground, including a dominant innings‑and‑103‑run victory over Pakistan earlier this week. Root, England’s captain, echoed the sentiment that the venue’s success should be taken into account when scheduling. “I’d love to play as many games as possible at Headingley,” Root said on Friday. “It’s a fantastic Test venue with a surface that produces high‑quality 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 sure we’ll see many more great matches at other grounds.” He continued, “As a player, it would be nice to have a say in where we play, but the English system works differently from Australia’s. I probably should stay in my lane and accept that it’s someone else’s job, but when you have a track record of success at a ground, you naturally want to keep playing there. Headingley is a ground I love – I’m a Yorkshireman, after all.” The women’s side will still meet Australia at Headingley as part of a multi‑format series next summer, but the men’s team will not return to the Yorkshire venue until at least 2029, after this week’s clash with Pakistan. Both Old Trafford and Headingley have been earmarked for an Ashes Test in 2031, while Edgbaston and the Utilita Bowl will miss out in that future series.
Brook also expressed his disappointment. Asked how he felt about the lack of a northern Test, the young batsman replied, “Slightly, to be honest.
We’ve had a lot of success at Headingley in Test cricket. Think back to 2019 when Ben Stokes played that incredible innings at the Ashes, or the 2023 Ashes win that kept the urn alive. I love playing at Headingley – it’s one of my favourite venues, if not my favourite ground to bat on.” He added, “It’s disappointing not to have a northern Test, but those decisions aren’t ours to make.
The hierarchy decides and we just follow their directions.” The full schedule for the 2027 Ashes is as follows (all times are UK and Ireland): - First Test: Friday 18 June – Tuesday 22 June (11:00) – Trent Bridge, Nottingham - Second Test: Wednesday 30 June – Sunday 4 July (11:00) – Lord’s, London - Third Test: Thursday 8 July – Monday 12 July (11:00) – Edgbaston, Birmingham - Fourth Test: Wednesday 21 July – Sunday 25 July (11:00) – Utilita Bowl, Southampton - Fifth Test: Thursday 29 July – Monday 2 August (11:00) – The Kia Oval, London Fans can watch England’s three Tests against Pakistan live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event, or stream the action contract‑free via NOW. The ongoing debate over venue selection highlights a broader conversation about regional representation in English cricket and the importance of preserving historic grounds for future generations of fans and players alike.