Joe Root, Harry Brook and former England batsman Mark Butcher have expressed disappointment that next summer’s men’s Ashes series will not feature a Test in the north of the country.
Venues for the 2027 Ashes against Australia were confirmed last month, with no ground north of Trent Bridge in Nottingham – being used for the series opener – named among the five-Test line-up.
Lord’s, Edgbaston and The Kia Oval were named as returning venues, while the Utilita Bowl in Southampton will host a men’s Ashes Test for the first time, with Headingley in Leeds and Old Trafford in Manchester both high-profile grounds to miss out.
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A look back at Ben Stokes’ heroic Ashes display at Headingley in 2019, where he guided England to a famous one-wicket win
The lack of a northern ground during the men’s Ashes schedule has come under scrutiny from players, pundits and fans since it was announced, with Butcher questioning why two historic venues have both missed out.
“I think anybody but the most partisan Hampshire cricket supporter would recognise that in a sport and particularly in a series like The Ashes, where the interest in the game is at its peak at any point over a four-year cycle, that the game being marketed as a game for everybody needs to have some representation and needs to have a game in the north,” Butcher told Sky Sports.
“Whether that’s here at Headingley or whether it’s at Old Trafford, that’s a point for the bean counters to decide, or whoever’s turn that might be.
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Nasser Hussain and Mark Butcher reflect on Butcher’s Headingley ton during the 2001 Ashes series and how a sliding doors moment led to the historic knock
“I find it extraordinary that there’ll be no Ashes cricket up in the north of England beyond Trent Bridge next year. It’s bizarre.
“Of course, I have a certain affinity with this ground [Headingley] and with Old Trafford as a player. I also think that for visiting teams, there are five or six grounds that have an enormous amount of history when it comes to Ashes cricket.
“Sadly, the Utilita Bowl is not one of them.”
England have won all seven of their most recent Tests at Headingley, including their statement victory against Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs this week.
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England have won their last seven Tests at Headingley, including this week’s statement win against Pakistan
Root explained England’s success at the Leeds venue should come into consideration, and believes players should have a say in the scheduling.
“I’d love to play as many games as possible here,” the England captain said on Friday. “I think it’s a great Test match venue.
“It’s a surface that provides brilliant Test cricket and one that we’ve had quite a lot of success on recently. So it’s a shame we don’t get to play at Headingley next year, but I’m sure we’ll see many more brilliant Test matches here.
“As a player, it would be nice to have a choice, but obviously this is a slightly different system in England compared to Australia.
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Joe Root believes players should have a say in which venues are selected for The Ashes
“I think I should probably stay in my lane and understand that this is someone else’s job, but as a player you want to play at the ground that you have more success at, and Headingley is one we generally do well at.
“I love playing at Headingley and as a Yorkshireman I have to say that from birth.”
England Women meet Australia in a Test match at Headingley as part of a multi-format series next summer, although the Yorkshire ground is not scheduled to host another men’s Test match after this week’s clash with Pakistan until 2029.
Both Old Trafford and Headingley have been awarded an Ashes Test in 2031, with Edgbaston and the Utilita Bowl missing out in that series, but Brook is also saddened the 2027 edition will lack northern venues.
When asked how disappointed he was, Brook told Sky Sports ahead of day three of the first Test against Pakistan, “Slightly, to be honest. I think we’ve had a hell of a lot of success here [Headingley] in Test match cricket.
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Harry Brook spoke to Sky Sports about all things England during the first Test against Pakistan at Headingley
“You go back to 2019 in the Ashes when Stokesy [Ben Stokes] played that ridiculous innings, then the last Ashes Test match a couple of years ago [2023, England win] where we kept the Ashes alive.
“I personally love playing here [Headingley]. It’s a great venue. It’s one of my favourites, if not my favourite ground to bat on as well.
“It [lack of northern Test] is disappointing, but we don’t make those decisions. The hierarchy make them and we just get told where to play.”
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Australia reflect on their own memories of Stokes’ Headingley heroics in 2019
Men’s Ashes series in England 2027
All times UK and Ireland
First Test: Friday June 18 – Tuesday June 22 (11am) – Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Second Test: Wednesday June 30 – Sunday July 4 (11am) – Lord’s
Third Test: Thursday July 8 – Monday July 12 (11am) – Edgbaston, Birmingham
Fourth Test: Wednesday July 21 – Sunday July 25 (11am) – Utilita Bowl, Southampton
Fifth Test: Thursday July 29 – Monday August 2 (11am) – The Kia Oval, London
Watch all three of England’s Tests against Pakistan, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event. Stream cricket and more sport contract-free with NOW.
