ECB pledges northern Ashes Test every series to 2039
Richard Gould responds to Ben Stokes' criticism of the 2027 Ashes schedule, promising Headingley or Old Trafford will always host a men's Test.
The ECB has committed to staging at least one Ashes Test in the north of England every series through to 2039, after Headingley and Old Trafford were left off the schedule for 2027.
Lord's, the Oval, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge and the Utilita Bowl will host the five Tests against Australia in 2027. Headingley gets a women's Ashes Test but no men's fixture until 2029. Former England captain Ben Stokes called the scheduling "shambolic".
Richard Gould, the ECB's chief executive, answered the criticism on the Stick to Cricket podcast.
"Going forward to 2039, there will always be an Ashes Test in the North. 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. 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," Gould said.
Cardiff and Durham's Chester-le-Street have both hosted England Tests in the past and remain white-ball venues. England, founded in 1739 and based at the 31,100-capacity Lord's, sit second in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup on 6 points from 4 matches.
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- ECB promises Ashes Test in north until at least 2039 after backlash independent.co.uk