The Ashes: Mayors urge ECB to rethink 2027 series locations

Neither Old Trafford nor Headingley will host a test in four years.

< Southampton will host its first men's Ashes Test in 2027, as well as Lord's, The Oval, Edgbaston and Trent Bridge.

This will be the first time since 2015 that the Nottinghamshire ground has staged a men's Ashes Test.

As things stand, the current Test at Old Trafford will be the last Men's Test from the Ashes to be held north of Nottingham until 2031.

England captain Ben Stokes, who plays for Durham and grew up in Cumbria after leaving New Zealand as a child, has said "devastated" by the decision.

< p class="" data-reactid=".28ai89c50w4.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-8">"Headingley and Old Trafford are two of England's most iconic cricket grounds and home to historic Ashes moments, from the heroic exploits of Ian Botham in 1981 to Ben Stokes' 'Miracle of Headingley' in 20 19", reads the letter from Burnham and Brabin.

"Very few grounds attract such passionate or diverse support as Headingley and Old Trafford - as a number of England players themselves have acknowledged in recent days.

"The rivalry between Lancashire and Yorkshire in cricket is legendary, but it is an issue that unites both sides of the Pennines.

"We urge you to think again and ensure that people in the north of England have the opportunity to witness more Iconic Ashes in 2027."

Headingley are set to host the Women's Ashes Test in 2027 while Old Trafford will host a Men's Test against yet-to-be-determined opponents.

The allocation of venues for major matches organized by the ECB until 2031 was announced in June.

Matches are allocated to venues based on a number of criteria, including maximizing attendance, maintaining historical levels of geographic distribution in England and Wales, and supporting the economic sustainability of these grounds and in this country, meaning two misses in a five-game Ashes series.

The Ageas Bowl in Southampton will become the 10th ground in the UK to hold a men's Ashes Test in the UK. It will also host the women's Ashes Test in 2031.

It has played a key role in hosting cricket during the pandemic, as one of the ECB's "bio-bubbles". England have played three Tests and a number of cue ball matches there, as well as the International Cricket Council hosting the 2021 World Test Championship final on the south coast. nt still the men's Ashes Tests given their location in London and the fact that they are the two largest grounds in the country.

< p class="" data-reactid=".28ai89c50w4.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-19">Birmingham's Edgbaston, which has hosted the men's Ashes Tests in three consecutive series, will do so again in 2027, but not in 2031.