After the drama of the Headingley test, the ECB decision not to hold an Ashes Test in Leeds in 2027 seems extraordinary.
The first Test, in a series of five against India this summer, was the perfect example of international cricket at its best. Two evenly matched top teams, competing over five days in front of enthusiastic supporters at Headingley could not have provided a better advert for the sport. With England chasing down an enormous 371 runs to win, the result was still in the balance going into the final hour of the five days.
With a capacity of 18,350, Headingley is the fifth largest cricket venue in the country and is invariably full, especially when the likes of Australia and India come to town. The enthusiastic Yorkshire supporters, many in fancy dress at a ground where signing is actively encouraged (usually helped by a few pints in the sunshine) are very different from the cricket supporters at Lord’s, where sportsmanship and politeness outweigh the northerner’s gamesmanship and abrasiveness.
That contrast is one of the reasons that Headingley has become such a favourite venue for test cricket, and it also seems to work for the England team, with the ground becoming a fortress with the team winning the last six Tests that have been played there. The ground has also hosted some of the most spectacular moments in the sport’s history. In 1977 Sir Geoffrey Boycott scored his 100th first class hundred at Headingley; in 1981 Ian Botham’s unbeaten 149 runs set England up for what many regard as the greatest win in Ashes history, a claim that was challenged in 2019 as England chased down their highest ever fourth innings target against Australia, with Ben Stokes scoring an unbeaten 135, partnered by Jack Leach who scored an equally valuable 1 run (but crucially remained not out!).
In light of the capacity crowds, the unrivalled history and the success that England has enjoyed at the ground, the decision by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) regarding future Test match venues seems ridiculous.
Headingley does not have an Ashes Test in 2027, nor an India Test in 2029, having been overlooked for further fixtures against the ‘Big Three’ until Australia visits in 2031.
The next homes Ashes series in 2027, the jewel in the crown for the ECB, will be played in Birmingham, London, Nottingham, Southampton and then back to London. With the sport trying to broaden its appeal across the country, it seems bizarre that neither test venues in the north (Old Trafford and Headingley) will host a match or even, dare I say it, Sophia Gardens in Cardiff that has hosted fantastic ashes Tests in the past.
Sanjay Patel, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Cricket, has not been shy about his views on the subject, saying, “It’s a massive miss from the governing body in terms of trying to grow the game. I think if you’re sitting at ECB, and you’re genuinely thinking about growing the game, there’s no better place to grow the game where you’ve got the biggest scale, and that’s in Yorkshire.”
The ECB is riding a resurgence in support for Test cricket in England at the moment, and with ticket prices invariably over £100, the financial position within the game is looking very positive. But things can change quickly in any sport. Thirty years ago, a West Indies verses Australia Test match in Barbados would have been a five day sell out, but the same Test played last week on the Caribbean Island was noted for the sparsity of the crowds, despite locals being able to gain entrance for as little as 7$ US.
With cricket supporters nowadays enticed with numerous short form versions of the game, the ECB needs to ensure it protects and nurtures the traditional five-day Test match, especially in its Yorkshire heartland – or risk being branded ‘wazzocks’ by the whole county!
David Little is a Partner at Bishop & Sewell in our expert Sports Law and Corporate & Commercial teams.
If you would like to contact him, please call on either 07968 027343 or 020 7631 4141 or email: company@bishopandsewell.co.uk.
The above is accurate as at 17 June 2025.
The information above may be subject to change. The content of this note should not be considered legal advice, and each matter should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
