Former England opener Mark Butcher, current captain Joe Root and batting all‑rounder Harry Brook have all voiced their disappointment that the 2027 men’s Ashes series will not include a Test match in the northern part of the country. The venues for the 2027 England‑Australia encounter were announced last month, and the itinerary contains no ground north of Trent Bridge in Nottingham – the venue for the opening match – among the five scheduled Tests. Lord’s, Edgbaston and The Kia Oval are returning to the rotation, while the Utilita Bowl in Southampton will host a men’s Ashes Test for the first time. In contrast, two of the most historic northern venues – Headingley in Leeds and Old Trafford in Manchester – have been omitted from the schedule, a decision that has drawn criticism from players, commentators and supporters alike.
Butcher, speaking to Sky Sports, questioned why two such storied grounds were 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 is marketed as being for everyone.
That means there needs to be representation across the country, and a Test in the north is essential,” he said. He added that the choice between Headingley and Old Trafford should be left to the “bean counters” – the administrators who decide the fixtures – but he found the omission “extraordinary” and “bizarre”.
He also noted his personal connection to both venues, saying, “I have a certain affinity with Headingley and with Old Trafford from my playing days. For touring sides there are five or six grounds with a huge amount of Ashes history, and unfortunately the Utilita Bowl is not one of them.” The statistics back up the sentiment. England have won all seven of their most recent Tests at Headingley, including a dominant innings‑and‑103‑runs victory over Pakistan earlier this year.
Root echoed the call for a northern Test, arguing that the team’s recent success at Leeds should be taken into account and that players ought to have a voice in the scheduling process. “I’d love to play as many games as possible here,” the captain said.
“It’s a great venue with a surface that produces brilliant Test cricket, and we’ve had a lot of success on it recently. It’s a shame we won’t be at Headingley next year, but I’m sure we’ll see many more great matches here.” Root also reflected on the difference between the English and Australian systems for allocating venues, admitting that as a player he would prefer to have a say but recognising that the decision‑making lies elsewhere. “I should probably stay in my lane and understand this is someone else’s job, but as a player you want to play at the ground where you’ve been successful, and Headingley is one of those grounds,” he explained. “I love playing at Headingley and, as a Yorkshireman, I’ve loved it since I was a child.” Brook, meanwhile, expressed a more subdued disappointment.
Speaking ahead of day three of the first Test against Pakistan, he said, “Slightly, to be honest. We’ve had a lot of success at Headingley in Test cricket.” He recalled iconic moments such as Ben Stokes’ legendary 2019 Ashes innings and England’s 2023 Ashes win, both of which featured memorable performances at the Leeds ground. “I personally love playing here. It’s a great venue, one of my favourites, if not my favourite ground to bat on,” Brook added.
He lamented the lack of a northern Test but accepted that the hierarchy makes those decisions, not the players. The 2027 schedule, in full, is as follows: - 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 While the men’s series will miss a northern venue, the women’s side will face Australia in a Test at Headingley as part of a multi‑format series next summer. However, that will be the last men’s Test at the Yorkshire ground until at least 2029, when the schedule reverts to its traditional rotation. Looking further ahead, both Old Trafford and Headingley have been earmarked for an Ashes Test in 2031, with Edgbaston and the Utilita Bowl being left out of that future itinerary.
This long‑term planning suggests that the north will eventually be back in the Ashes picture, but the immediate exclusion has left players and fans feeling short‑changed. The reaction to the venue list underscores a broader conversation about regional representation in English cricket.
Supporters argue that hosting a high‑profile Ashes Test in the north not only honours the historic significance of grounds like Headingley and Old Trafford but also helps to grow the game’s fanbase in areas that have traditionally been cricket heartlands. Administrators, on the other hand, must balance commercial considerations, stadium capacity, broadcast requirements and logistical factors when crafting the schedule. For now, the disappointment expressed by Butcher, Root and Brook highlights the emotional connection players have with the venues where they have achieved success.
Their comments serve as a reminder that the Ashes is not just a series of matches, but a cultural institution that thrives on geographic diversity and the shared history of iconic stadiums across the United Kingdom.