Joe Root, Harry Brook and former England opener Mark Butcher have all voiced their disappointment that the 2027 men’s Ashes series will not include a Test match in the traditional northern heartland of English cricket. The venues for the 2027 Ashes against Australia were announced last month, and the itinerary shows that the only ground north of the River Trent is Trent Bridge in Nottingham, which will host the opening Test. The other four venues – Lord’s in London, Edgbaston in Birmingham, the Kia Oval in London and the newly‑named Utilita Bowl in Southampton – are all situated in the south or the Midlands, meaning that historic northern arenas such as Headingley in Leeds and Old Trafford in Manchester have been omitted.
The decision has sparked a wave of criticism from players, pundits and supporters alike. Mark Butcher, speaking to Sky Sports, asked why two of the country’s most storied grounds were left out. “Anyone who isn’t a die‑hard Hampshire supporter can see that in a sport like cricket – especially in a marquee series such as the Ashes, where interest peaks every four years – the game has to be marketed as a game for everyone. That means you need representation from the north,” he said.
“Whether that representation comes at Headingley or Old Trafford is a question for the financial planners, but it’s baffling that there will be no Ashes cricket north of Trent Bridge next year.” Butcher went on to note his personal connection to both venues. “I have a great affection for Headingley and Old Trafford from my playing days.
For touring sides there are five or six grounds steeped in Ashes history, and unfortunately the Utilita Bowl is not one of them,” he added. England’s recent record at Headingley only reinforces the argument for its inclusion.
The team has won all seven of its most recent Tests at the Leeds venue, including a dominant innings‑and‑103‑runs victory over Pakistan earlier this season. Captain Joe Root echoed this sentiment, saying that the side’s success at the ground should be a factor in future scheduling.
“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 great 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 memorable Tests at this ground in the future.” Root also reflected on the player’s perspective, acknowledging that while the final decision rests with administrators, players naturally prefer to play where they feel comfortable and have a track record of success.
“I suppose I should stay in my lane and recognise that this is someone else’s job, but as a player you want to be at a ground where you’ve performed well. Headingley is a place where we generally do well, and as a Yorkshireman I’ve loved playing there since I was a child.” Harry Brook, another young England star, expressed a similar sense of loss.
Speaking ahead of day three of the first Test against Pakistan, Brook admitted that the omission of a northern venue was “slightly disappointing”. He recalled the dramatic 2019 Ashes at Headingley, where Ben Stokes produced his famous unbeaten 135, and the 2023 series win that kept the Ashes alive. “Headingley is one of my favourite places to bat, if not my favourite ground overall.
It’s a great venue and we’ve had a lot of success there,” Brook said. “The lack of a northern Test is disappointing, but those decisions are made by the hierarchy, not by us players.” The broader schedule for the 2027 Ashes confirms the north‑south split. The five Tests are set as follows: 1. First Test – Friday 18 June to Tuesday 22 June at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
2. Second Test – Wednesday 30 June to Sunday 4 July at Lord’s, London. 3. Third Test – Thursday 8 July to Monday 12 July at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
4. Fourth Test – Wednesday 21 July to Sunday 25 July at the Utilita Bowl, Southampton (a first‑time Ashes venue). 5.
Fifth Test – Thursday 29 July to Monday 2 August at the Kia Oval, London. While the men’s schedule omits a northern ground, the England women’s side will face Australia in a Test at Headingley as part of a multi‑format series next summer, ensuring that the venue still hosts high‑profile Ashes‑related cricket, albeit not the men’s version. The next opportunity for a men’s Ashes Test at Headingley is slated for 2031, when both Headingley and Old Trafford are slated to host matches, while Edgbaston and the Utilita Bowl will miss out that year.
The reaction from fans has been equally vocal. Many argue that the commercial imperative to spread the game across the country should not override the historical and emotional significance of northern venues. The north of England has produced a disproportionate share of England’s cricketing talent and has a passionate fan base that regularly fills the stands at Headingley and Old Trafford.
Excluding these grounds from the Ashes schedule could be seen as a missed opportunity to engage those supporters and to celebrate the regional diversity that underpins English cricket. Critics also point out that the decision may have financial motivations.
The Utilita Bowl in Southampton is a modern, purpose‑built stadium with state‑of‑the‑art facilities, which could attract higher corporate revenue and television audiences. However, traditionalists argue that heritage and atmosphere, which venues like Headingley and Old Trafford provide in abundance, are equally valuable to the sport’s brand.
In summary, the 2027 Ashes schedule has sparked a debate about geography, tradition, and commercial interests in English cricket. While the England and Wales Cricket Board has defended its choices as part of a broader strategy to modernise the game and reach new audiences, former players and current stars alike have made it clear that the north feels overlooked. Their hope is that future editions will restore a more balanced distribution of venues, ensuring that the Ashes remains a truly national contest that reflects the full geographic tapestry of England’s cricketing landscape.