The decision to exclude Headingley and Old Trafford from the 2027 men’s Ashes schedule has been called “extraordinary” and “bizarre” by former England batsman Mark Butcher.
Every game in the five-Test series against Australia will take place at grounds in the Midlands, London, or the south of England; neither Leeds nor Manchester will play. The locations were announced last month.
After hosting Ashes Tests in 2023, Lord’s, Edgbaston, and the Oval will host the series opener at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. The Rose Bowl in Southampton will host a men’s Ashes Test for the first time since it was introduced to the schedule. Both players and commentators have criticised the exclusion of two well-known northern sites.
What is the schedule for the men’s Ashes in 2027?
The dates of the five-Test series are June 18–August 2, 2027. The first Test will take place at Trent Bridge from June 18–22, and the second Test will take place from June 30–July 4. The third Test will take place in Edgbaston from July 8–12. The Rose Bowl and the Oval will host the fourth and fifth Tests, respectively, from July 21–25 and July 29–August 2.
The entire series is concentrated in southern England and the Midlands according to the timetable. Since the Southampton venue has never been used in a men’s series between the two teams, the Utilita Bowl’s participation is the most significant departure from earlier Ashes rotations in England. As part of a multi-format series next summer, England Women will play Australia in a separate Test match at Headingley.
When will the next men’s Ashes Test be held at Headingley and Old Trafford?
Since both venues will host men’s Ashes Tests in 2031, they will have missed at least two straight home Ashes series in England. The available scheduling information indicates that Headingley won’t hold another men’s Test of any kind following the current match versus Pakistan until 2029. Harry Brook, an England batter, has voiced his dissatisfaction over the 2027 series’ lack of northern locations.
