Ashes 2027 Schedule Announced: Trent Bridge to Host Series Opener, Southampton Gets Historic First Test

London, Jul 23: The dates for next 2027 men's Ashes Test between England and Australia are finally out with Trent Bridge in Nottingham set to host the opening match of the five-Test series.

The five venues for the iconic Test series, between two of the oldest Test rivals lock horns for the coveted trophy, had already been selected - including Southampton's Rose Bowl for the first time. The dates have been announced on Thursday (July 23).

The opening Test is scheduled from June 18-22. England have won their last three Ashes Tests at Trent Bridge, the most recent in 2015 when Australia were bowled out for 60.

The second Test match will be played at iconic Lord's Cricket Ground, between June 30 and July 4. There's a scheduled break of only four days to the third Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham from July 8-12.

The fourth Test marks Southampton's men's Ashes debut from July 21-25. It becomes the 10th British ground to host a men's Ashes Test. The series ends at The Oval from July 29-Aug 2.

Men's Ashes 2027 Schedule

There was contention that Nottingham was the most northerly venue in England in the 2027 Ashes after Old Trafford in Manchester and Headingley in Leeds were not selected. Both grounds have been chosen for the 2031 series but when the 2027 venues were picked in 2023, the mayors of Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire wrote to the England and Wales Cricket Board to express their disappointment.

Ben Stokes, who plays for Durham in the far north of England, said when he was leading England during their ill-fated 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia earlier this year that no Ashes Tests in the north next year was "a shame."

Old Trafford, however, will stage a warmup game for Australia against the England Lions. It is scheduled for June 7-10, which will be revisited if Australia reaches the World Test Championship final. That final at The Oval is set for June 9-13.

The women's Ashes between England and Australia will run alongside the men's. Their series begins with a women's Test at Headingley for the first time since 2001 from June 24-27 followed by three Twenty20s and three one-day internationals ending on July 20.

Note: The ECB announcement confirmed only the dates and venue for the women's Test (Headingley, June 24-27) and that the series would comprise one Test, three T20Is and three ODIs, ending on July 20, 2027. The detailed schedule for the white-ball matches has not yet been announced.

Also announced for 2027 were England men hosting Pakistan for five ODIs in May followed by a first home Test against Bangladesh since 2010 at Lord's.

New Zealand tour in September for three T20s and five ODIs as the teams prepare for the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa in October. The England women also host Bangladesh in September for six white-ball matches.

(With Inputs From Agencies)