The next men’s Ashes series is set to take place in England in 2027, though exact dates have yet to be confirmed. The series will be played during the UK summer months, following the traditional schedule.
The five Test venues for the 2027 Ashes have already been announced:
- Lord’s (London)
- The Oval (London)
- Trent Bridge (Nottingham)
- The Utilita Bowl (Southampton)
- Edgbaston (Birmingham)
The Utilita Bowl in Southampton will host a men’s Ashes Test for the first time, becoming the 10th UK ground to stage such a match. Both Trent Bridge, The Oval and Lord’s are also set to host Ashes Tests in 2031.
Notably, Old Trafford (Manchester) and Headingley (Leeds) were not chosen to host matches in the 2027 edition. This means there will be no venue in the north of England for the series, with Trent Bridge in Nottingham being the most northerly location among the five grounds. However, Old Trafford and Headingley have been selected to feature in the 2031 Ashes.
The allocation of matches to venues is based on several criteria, including maximising attendance and supporting the economic sustainability of the grounds. The absence of Old Trafford and Headingley has sparked considerable discussion.
In 2023, the mayors of Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire wrote to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), expressing “disappointment” and urging a rethink of the venue choices. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham told the BBC: “There should always be a men’s Ashes Test in the north of England, in any series. If we’re going to get the game to all parts of the country and really make sure that it’s connecting with people everywhere, we’ve got to have a men’s Ashes test in the north.”
England captain Ben Stokes also voiced his feelings, saying: “I’m a bit devastated that there won’t be any Ashes cricket here in 2027 in the North. It’s a shame.” He added: “I don’t make those calls, but if I was involved, I would have said, ‘please keep at least one game in the north’.” Stokes believes England perform well at northern grounds, particularly at Headingley.
This will be the fourth time in the last seven Ashes series held in England that Headingley has missed out. Yorkshire CEO Sanjay Patel stated: “At a time where we feel like we really needed help, we haven’t been given those games.”
The 2027 Ashes men’s series will be the first to feature the Utilita Bowl as a venue. The last men’s Ashes played in England took place between 16 June and 31 July 2023.
