Former England cricketer Ben Stokes has labelled England and Wales Cricket Board’s decision to leave Headingley out of the 2027 men’s Ashes schedule as ‘shambolic’. His comments came after England’s emphatic innings-and-103-run win over Pakistan at Headingley in the first Test of their three-game series. Ever since the announcement, former players, pundits and fans slammed the cricketing board as they didn’t include the northern venue as part of the men’s Ashes schedule.

Joe Root, who replaced Stokes at the helm of the England Test team had earlier described the absence of venue as a ‘shame’ and pointed to England’s strong record at the ground. However, Stokes reacted to Root’s comments and said that the word didn’t adequately describe the frustration. “Shame is an understatement. Shambolic would be appropriate. Great win though.” Notably, the cricketing board has selected Trent Bridge, Lord’s, Edgbaston, the Rose Bowl and The Oval as the five venues.

Why was Headingley’s Omission Holds a Special Place in Ashes History?

The Leeds venue holds a special significance in Stokes’ career. During the 2019 Ashes, Stokes scored one of the most highlighted innings of his career and scored an unbeaten 135 to guide England to a dramatic one-wicket win over Australia. While the venue is not in ECB’s consideration for the upcoming series, it, along with Old Trafford, are scheduled to return to the Ashes rotation in 2031. Apart from Stokes, former England batter Mark Butcher, who scored a century at Headingley in the Ashes 25 years ago, questioned the logic of the ECB’s decision.

He said, "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.” “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,” he added. "The game being marketed as a game for everybody needs to have some representation and needs to have a game in the north,” Butcher went on to say.