Joe Root, Harry Brook and former England opener Mark Butcher have all voiced their disappointment that the upcoming 2027 men’s Ashes series will not feature a Test match in the northern part of England. The venues for the 2027 Ashes against Australia were announced last month, and the schedule includes five Test matches, but none of them are located north of Trent Bridge in Nottingham, which will host the opening game. The traditional northern grounds of Headingley in Leeds and Old Trafford in Manchester have been omitted, while Lord’s, Edgbaston and The Kia Oval return as familiar hosts.
In a surprising move, the Utilita Bowl in Southampton will stage a men’s Ashes Test for the first time, marking a clear shift in geographic focus. The decision to exclude a northern venue has drawn criticism from players, commentators and supporters alike. Mark Butcher, speaking to Sky Sports, questioned why two historic grounds have been left out of such a marquee series.
He argued that the Ashes, being the pinnacle of cricket rivalry and attracting massive interest every four years, should be marketed as a game for the whole nation. "Anyone who isn’t a die‑hard Hampshire fan will recognise that a series of this stature needs representation from the north," Butcher said.
"Whether that representation comes at Headingley or Old Trafford is a matter for the accountants, but it should be on the table." Butcher went on to describe the omission as "extraordinary" and "bizarre," noting that the north has a deep cricketing heritage. He added, "I have a personal affinity for Headingley and Old Trafford from my playing days, and both grounds hold a wealth of Ashes history. The Utilita Bowl, while a modern facility, does not yet have that legacy." England’s recent record at Headingley adds weight to the argument. The team has won all seven of its most recent Tests at the Leeds venue, including a dominant innings victory over Pakistan earlier this week.
Captain Joe Root echoed the sentiment, saying that the team’s success at Headingley should be a factor in future scheduling decisions. "I would love to play as many games as possible at Headingley," Root told reporters on Friday.
"It’s a superb Test venue with a surface that produces exciting cricket, and we have enjoyed a lot of success there recently. It’s a shame we won’t be back next year, but I’m confident we’ll have many more great matches at that ground in the future." Root also highlighted the player’s perspective, noting that while the scheduling process in England differs from that in Australia, players still feel strongly about playing at grounds where they have performed well. "I understand my role is to stay in my lane and let the administrators decide, but as a player you naturally want to play where you feel comfortable and have a track record of success," he said.
"Headingley is a ground I love – I was born in Yorkshire, after all." The absence of a northern Test in the men’s programme does not mean the north will be completely excluded from Ashes cricket. England Women will face Australia in a Test at Headingley as part of a multi‑format series next summer, and both Headingley and Old Trafford have been earmarked for Ashes Tests in 2031. However, the 2027 schedule leaves a gap that has disappointed both current and former players.
Harry Brook, who is also a Yorkshire native, expressed a similar sense of let‑down. Speaking ahead of day three of the first Test against Pakistan, he admitted his disappointment was "slight, to be honest," but emphasized the emotional connection he has with Headingley. "We’ve had a huge amount of success here – think back to Ben Stokes’s incredible innings in the 2019 Ashes and the 2023 win that kept the Ashes alive.
I personally love playing at Headingley; it’s one of my favourite venues and probably my favourite ground to bat on." Brook added that the decision is beyond the players’ control. "The hierarchy makes those choices and we just get told where to play," he said. "It’s disappointing, but that’s the reality of the system." The full 2027 Ashes itinerary is as follows, with all times listed in 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 The omission of Headingley and Old Trafford from this year’s men’s Ashes schedule has sparked a broader conversation about regional representation in English cricket.
Advocates argue that spreading marquee matches across the country not only honours the sport’s heritage but also encourages participation and fan engagement in areas that have traditionally been cricket strongholds. Critics of the current plan suggest that the inclusion of a southern venue like the Utilita Bowl, while offering a state‑of‑the‑art facility, does not compensate for the loss of historic northern grounds that have hosted countless memorable Ashes moments.
Looking ahead, the cricketing community will be watching closely to see whether the 2031 Ashes allocation, which does include both Headingley and Old Trafford, will satisfy the calls for a more balanced geographic distribution. In the meantime, players like Root, Brook and Butcher hope that their voices will be heard and that future scheduling committees will give greater consideration to the northern venues that have contributed so richly to the legacy of the Ashes.