Exclusion of northern venues for 2027 Ashes ‘bizarre’, says Mark Butcher

Leeds, Aug 21 (IANS) Former England batter Mark Butcher has labelled the decision to leave iconic grounds Headingley and Old Trafford, based in the northern part of the country, off the schedule for the 2027 men’s Ashes series as ‘extraordinary’ and ‘bizarre.’

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has assigned the five-match high-profile Test series against Australia to Trent Bridge, Lord’s, Edgbaston, the Kia Oval, and Southampton’s Utilita Bowl, which will host its maiden men’s Ashes Test.

The schedule has drawn sharp criticism from fans and former players over the lack of geographical balance. “I think anybody but the most partisan Hampshire cricket supporter would recognise that in a sport and particularly in a series like the Ashes, where the interest in the game is at its peak at any point over a four-year cycle, that the game being marketed as a game for everybody needs to have some representation and needs to have a game in the north.

“Whether that’s here at Headingley or whether it’s at Old Trafford, that’s a point for the bean counters to decide, or whoever’s turn that might be. I find it extraordinary that there’ll be no Ashes cricket up in the north of England beyond Trent Bridge next year. It’s bizarre,” Butcher told Sky Sports.

Both Headingley and Old Trafford are scheduled to host Ashes Tests in 2031, but the gap in 2027 has left many frustrated. “Of course, I have a certain affinity with this ground [Headingley] and with Old Trafford as a player. I also think that for visiting teams, there are five or six grounds that have an enormous amount of history when it comes to Ashes cricket. Sadly, the Utilita Bowl is not one of them,” added Butcher.

Headingley will host a women’s Ashes between England and Australia next year as part of a multi-format series, although it is not scheduled to host another men’s Test match after this week’s clash with Pakistan until 2029. England batter Harry Brook also expressed sadness over the 2027 Ashes not being played in northern venues.

“Slightly, to be honest. I think we’ve had a hell of a lot of success here (Headingley) in Test match cricket. You go back to 2019 in the Ashes when Stokesy (Ben Stokes) played that ridiculous innings, then the last Ashes Test match a couple of years ago (2023, England win) where we kept the Ashes alive.”

“I personally love playing here (Headingley). It’s a great venue. It’s one of my favourites, if not my favourite ground to bat on as well. It (lack of northern Test) is disappointing, but we don’t make those decisions. The hierarchy make them and we just get told where to play,” Brook noted ahead of day three’s play against Pakistan.

–IANS

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