England News

Former England captain Ben Stokes says it is ‘shambolic’ not to take Ashes Test to Headingley

The former England captain has hit out at the 2027 Ashes schedule after Headingley was overlooked for a men’s Test despite its rich recent history.

by
The Cricket Paper Team
23 August 2026

Ben Stokes has branded the decision not to hold a men’s Ashes Test at Headingley next summer “shambolic”, while congratulating his former England team-mates on their victory over Pakistan.

The former Test captain, who dramatically announced his international retirement during England’s previous match against New Zealand, has just played in Durham’s County Championship victory over Derbyshire but has been keeping tabs on his old side.

Under Joe Root’s leadership they eased to an innings win over the tourists, stretching their winning run at the Yorkshire venue to seven in a row.

Speaking after the match, Root admitted it felt “a shame” that his home ground would not be hosting Australia in the 2027 series.

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Joe Root and Ben Stokes after an England match — ANGER: Ben Stokes, right, went further than Joe Root in voicing his frustration over the lack of a men’s Ashes Test at Headingley.
PICTURE: Jacob King/PA

Shambolic

Posting a screenshot of Root’s words, Stokes added his own thoughts on a ground where he scored his most famous Test century in 2019, declaring: “Shame is an understatement tbh!!

“Shambolic would be more appropriate. Great win though.”

It is not new territory for Stokes, who first shared his disappointment at Headingley and Old Trafford missing out in the allocation during the 2023 Ashes campaign.

“I’m a bit devastated that there won’t be any Ashes cricket in 2027 in the north,” he said.

“I don’t make those calls but if I was involved, I would have said, ‘please keep at least one game in the north’.

“I think it’s always a loud atmosphere here. You know the crowds we get in the north – and I say the north quite bluntly there – is very good. We get a lot of support.”

ICONIC: Ben Stokes celebrates his classic Ashes century at Headingley.
PICTURE: Mike Egerton/PA

Great venue

While Headingley will host the one-off women’s Ashes Test, the men’s series will visit Hampshire’s Utilita Bowl for the first time, alongside Lord’s, the Kia Oval, Edgbaston and Trent Bridge.

Addressing the matter in his post-match press conference, Root said: “I would love to play as many games as possible here.

“It’s a great Test match venue and a surface that provides brilliant Test cricket.

“We’ve had quite a lot of success on it recently, so it’s a shame we don’t get to play here next year.

“I’m sure we will see many, many more brilliant Test matches here. I think I should probably stay in my lane and understand that it’s someone else’s job to sort out.”