The 2027 Ashes series between England and Australia will begin in June, with Trent Bridge in Nottingham hosting the first Test, according to confirmed fixtures and venue selections.
The 2027 Ashes series between England and Australia has been officially scheduled, with the men’s Tests set to begin in June and the women’s matches running concurrently. The fixtures outline a calendar featuring five Tests, and six white-ball matches for the women’s series. The men’s series will open at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, while the women’s Test will debut at Headingley, marking a return to the venue since 2001.
Venue Selection and Northern Disappointment
The 2027 Ashes venues were picked in 2023, but the decision to exclude northern grounds like Old Trafford and Headingley from the men’s Test schedule sparked criticism. The AP reported that the mayors of Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire wrote to the England and Wales Cricket Board to express their disappointment. Ben Stokes, who plays for Durham in the far north of England, called the lack of Ashes tests in the north next year “a shame.”
The 2027 men’s Ashes will feature tests at Trent Bridge, Lord’s, Edgbaston in Birmingham, Southampton’s Rose Bowl, and The Oval. Southampton will make its men’s Ashes debut, becoming the 10th British ground to host a men’s Ashes test.
Women’s Ashes Schedule and Context
The women’s Ashes between England and Australia will run alongside the men’s, beginning with a women’s test at Headingley for the first time since 2001. The women’s schedule includes three Twenty20s and three one-day internationals ending on July 20.
The women’s fixtures include matches at Northampton, Taunton, and Worcester for T20s, with ODIs at Hove, Canterbury, and Chelmsford.
Fixtures and Key Dates
Old Trafford will stage a warmup game for Australia against the England Lions. It is scheduled for June 7-10, which will be revisited if Australia reaches the World Test Championship final. That final at The Oval is set for June 9-13.
Also announced for 2027 were England men hosting Pakistan for five ODIs in May followed by a first home test against Bangladesh since 2010 at Lord’s. New Zealand tour in September for three T20s and five ODIs as the teams prepare for the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa in October. The England women also host Bangladesh in September for six white-ball matches.
Reaction and Implications
When the 2027 venues were picked in 2023, the mayors of Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire wrote to the England and Wales Cricket Board to express their disappointment. The AP noted that Old Trafford and Headingley have been chosen for the 2031 series. Stokes’ comments highlight the situation when he was leading England during their ill-fated 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia earlier this year.
The 2027 Ashes will feature the women’s Ashes running alongside the men’s.
