ECB finalises 2027 Ashes schedule; northern venues excluded from men’s series
The England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed the full fixture list for the 2027 Men’s Ashes, a decision that excludes Old Trafford and Headingley from the men’s five-match Test series despite prior political criticism.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has released the complete schedule for the 2027 Men’s Ashes series, confirming that no Tests will be held in the north of England. The five-match series begins at Trent Bridge on 18 June, followed by matches at Lord’s, Edgbaston, The Utilita Bowl in Southampton, and the Kia Oval. The women’s multi-format Ashes will run concurrently from 24 June.
Old Trafford and Headingley were excluded from the men’s fixtures, a decision previously criticised by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham. The exclusion marks a shift from the 2023 venue allocation, under which Old Trafford was due to host a Test. Instead, Old Trafford will host an ODI against Pakistan as part of England’s summer schedule.
The men’s series is scheduled to begin at Trent Bridge on 18 June 2027, with subsequent matches at Lord’s, Edgbaston, The Utilita Bowl in Southampton, and the Kia Oval. The multi-format Women’s Ashes will begin at Headingley on 24 June 2027. The women’s series will comprise a four-day Test, three T20s, and three One Day Internationals (ODIs), with points allocated as four for a Test win and two for white-ball wins.
England’s summer 2027 will commence with a five-match ODI series against Pakistan in May and conclude with T20s and ODIs against New Zealand in September. The men’s World Test Championship final is scheduled at The Oval from 9 June 2027; Australia’s warm-up game will be reviewed if they reach the final.
A one-off warm-up Test for England against Bangladesh will take place at Lord’s from 28 May to 1 June 2027. Australia will play a four-day warm-up match against England Lions at Old Trafford from 7 to 10 June 2027, under a new reciprocal agreement for high-quality opposition. BBC Test Match Special will provide ball-by-ball coverage, with highlights on BBC TV and iPlayer.
A schedule for the England men’s mixed disability team against Australia has not yet been confirmed, though the match was announced by the ECB. The Ashes will complete a marathon red-ball run for Australia, who host Bangladesh for two Tests in August, tour South Africa for three Tests in October, host New Zealand for four Tests at the turn of the year, compete in five Tests in India in January and February and stage a one-off Test against England in March to mark 150 years of Test cricket.
