The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the fixture schedule for the 2027 Ashes series on Thursday. Historic northern venues Headingley and Old Trafford were entirely excluded from the five-match clash against Australia.
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Subscribe Sekarang →The decision sparked sharp criticism when first proposed in 2023. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, then Mayor of Greater Manchester, voiced strong opposition to leaving out the iconic northern grounds.
Headingley and Old Trafford have hosted iconic moments in Ashes history. Sir Don Bradman scored two triple centuries at Headingley in the 1930s. Sir Ian Botham delivered legendary performances at both venues in 1981, while Ben Stokes secured an incredible one-wicket win at Headingley in 2019.
The 2027 series will focus entirely on southern and Midlands venues. Trent Bridge hosts the opening Test on June 18, followed by Lord's on June 30 and Edgbaston on July 8. Hampshire's Rose Bowl will host its first Ashes Test on July 21, becoming the tenth UK venue to host a men's Ashes match, before the series finishes at the Oval.
According to official plans, Headingley and Old Trafford will wait until 2031 to stage Ashes Tests again. Meanwhile, Australia holds the urn following a 4-1 victory on home soil in the 2025-26 series, with England's last Ashes victory coming back in 2015.