The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has reaffirmed its commitment to hosting at least one Ashes Test match in northern England through to 2039, following criticism over the absence of northern venues in next summer’s men’s Test schedule. Richard Gould, the ECB chief executive, addressed concerns after neither Headingley nor Old Trafford was selected to stage a men’s Ashes Test in 2024, marking the first time in several years that no Ashes Test will be played north of Nottingham.

Gould acknowledged the backlash from supporters unhappy with the 2024 schedule, which includes Southampton’s Utilita Bowl hosting its inaugural Ashes Test. Speaking on a cricket-focused podcast, he confirmed that both Headingley and Old Trafford will return as Ashes venues in 2031, with the ECB also planning to rotate matches at these northern grounds in 2035 and 2039. “Going forward to 2039, there will always be an Ashes Test in the north. Absolutely. That has always been the case in the past,” Gould stated.

In the 2023 Ashes series, both Headingley and Old Trafford hosted Tests, which Gould said was somewhat unexpected given his previous role as Surrey’s chief executive. According to unidentified county sources, the decision to defer a northern men’s Test fixture to 2024 may have been influenced by financial difficulties experienced by Yorkshire, a county that owns Headingley. Gould highlighted the importance of providing home advantage when possible and emphasized the challenge of balancing fixtures across venues amid a reduced number of Test grounds. “We used to have nine Test venues, we now have seven. Five Ashes Tests. We do want to make sure it goes around the country in a relatively fair manner,” he said.

The northern venues will not be completely excluded in 2027, as Headingley is scheduled to host the women’s Ashes Test that year, although women’s Test matches are generally less lucrative. Gould also addressed broader developments in cricket’s media engagement, expressing openness to producing a fly-on-the-wall documentary series to offer fans an inside view of the sport. While no formal plans are in place, Gould cited recent successful sports documentaries such as Formula 1’s "Drive to Survive" and the Australian men’s cricket team’s series "The Test" as examples of growing fan interest. He noted the need to balance such transparency with maintaining a private environment for players and staff, adding, “If there’s any Netflix or Amazon [representative] that wants to make us an offer, we’d be pleased to have those discussions.”

The ECB’s renewed assurance to maintain northern Ashes Tests aims to address fan concerns and uphold regional representation in one of cricket’s most historic rivalries.