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The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has vowed that the Ashes will have at least one Test in the north until 2039 after Headingley and Old Trafford were overlooked for next year’s series.
Lord’s, the Oval, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge and Hampshire’s Utilita Bowl will host the five matches between England cricket and Australia cricket in 2027, a decision that attracted significant criticism. Headingley will host a Test in the women’s series, but is not due to host a men’s Test until 2029.
Former England Test captain Ben Stokes labelled the scheduling as “shambolic” and Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, has promised that a similar scenario will not occur for the foreseeable future.
“Going forward to 2039, there will always be an Ashes Test in the North,” Gould said on Stick to Cricket. “Yes. Absolutely. That has been the case in the past.
“The pattern has always been to make sure there is an Ashes Test at either Headingley or Old Trafford. In 2023, there was an Ashes Test at both venues. That came as a bit of a surprise to us, having been in the game for a long time.
“You always want to provide home advantage. We used to have nine Test venues, we now have seven,” he said, defending next summer’s schedule. “Five Ashes Tests, we do want to make sure it goes around the country in a relatively fair manner. There are no Test matches in the North in 2027. We have to try to be fair to all of our members, and the game nationally.”
Cardiff and Durham’s Chester-le-Street have previously hosted England Test matches, and remain in use in white-ball cricket.
Next summer’s Test schedule is perhaps even more lopsided with Lord’s due to host a game against Bangladesh and the Oval returning as the venue for the World Test Championship final.
The price of tickets both for the Ashes and more generally to watch England has been criticised, but Gould defended the strategy and suggested it was in line with other major events.
“It is expensive. If you look at the Ashes though, you have a range from £90-odd to £165, depending on venues and where you want to sit,” he said. “Also it is expensive now, going to live events. Glastonbury is over £400-odd next year. Inflation is rising at 20 per cent since the Ashes. It is expensive.
“There are no investors taking money or profit out of cricket. All the money goes back into the game – grass-roots game, Premier League. At least take heart that when the money comes into the game, it is used for cricket.”
