The venues hosting England Men’s and England Women’s international matches over the seven-year period from 2025 to 2031 have been announced.
Headingley will host 5 Men’s Tests (including India and Australia) and 8 ODIs (including both India and Australia) and the only Women’s Ashes Test to be played in 2027.
Stephen Vaughan, Yorkshire CCC Chief Executive Officer, said: “It is a really positive step for us to be able to plan long term for both Men’s and Women’s international matches here at Headingley. In the 7 year cycle we’ve secured 5 Men’s Tests, including India and Australia and 8 ODIs, that also include both India and Australia. Headingley will also be the venue for the only Women’s Ashes Test to be played in 2027.
There are some mouth-watering fixtures to look forward to and I’m delighted we can confirm our first ever Women’s Ashes Test and we will be looking to fill Headingley for that one. Women’s matches have seen strong growth in attendances in recent times and I know the Yorkshire public will be keen to produce the unique welcome that our international sides get here at Headingley.
The length of the deal gives us certainty around dates for matches, allowing us to plan other events in good time and to invest into the stadium and facilities, knowing that it can be done sustainably as we’ll know our income streams well in advance.
A really exciting piece of news for Yorkshire Cricket.”
With this year’s hotly anticipated LV= Insurance Men’s Ashes and Metro Bank Women’s Ashes series just days away, the seven-year schedule sets out the details of two more huge Ashes summers to look forward to:
- England Men will take on Australia Men in a five-Test series at Lord’s, The Kia Oval, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge and The Ageas Bowl in 2027, with England Women meeting Australia Women in a Test match at Headingley as part of a multi-format series the same summer.
- In 2031, the Men’s sides will contest five Tests at Lord’s, The Kia Oval, Emirates Old Trafford, Headingley and Trent Bridge, while the Women’s multi-format series will include a Test match at The Ageas Bowl.
Further details of the match allocations, which have been agreed by the ECB Board, include:
- England Men’s next two Test series against India will take place at Lord’s, The Kia Oval, Edgbaston, Headingley and Emirates Old Trafford in 2025; and at Lord’s, The Kia Oval, Edgbaston, Emirates Old Trafford and The Ageas Bowl in 2029.
- England Women will play at Lord’s during each of the seven years during this period, with other major venues including The Kia Oval, Edgbaston, Headingley, Emirates Old Trafford, Trent Bridge and the The Ageas Bowl each hosting the team at least four times during this period. England Women’s internationals will also continue to be hosted at other venues around the country which have historically hosted games.
- Edgbaston will remain the home of Vitality Blast Finals Day.
Allocations have been announced for seven years, rather than the previous five-year period, to give venues greater certainty and to encourage sustainable investment in facilities. For the first time, the same process has been used for allocating Men’s and Women’s international matches, over the same period.
Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said: “This year’s Men’s and Women’s Ashes are only days away, but fans can already start looking forward to more great clashes up and down the country in the years ahead.
“For the first time, we are announcing long-term allocations for Women’s international matches as well as Men’s. We have seen huge growth in attendances for Women’s matches in recent years, with this year’s Women’s Ashes smashing previous records, and we want to build further on this in the years ahead.
“By announcing arrangements for the next seven years, we are also giving venues long-term certainty so that they can invest sustainably into stadium improvements and improved fan experiences.”
