Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire mayors request ECB to reconsider 2027 Ashes allocation

The mayors of Manchester and Yorkshire have asked England Cricket Board (ECB) to rethink its allocation of Ashes 2027. Under the current plan, the northern territories will not get the rights to host any of the matches and that’s the reason, they are trying hard to change the situation. Notably, the governing body decided that Lord's, Kia Oval, the Ageas Bowl, Edgbaston, and Trent Bridge will be the five hosting grounds and current England skipper Ben Stokes has already expressed his disappointment regarding the same.

Mayors Andy Burnham (Greater Manchester) and Tracy Brabin (West Yorkshire) have already written an open letter to the ECB, explaining the situation and already complained that London always gets to host three Test matches every summer. 

“We are writing to you to express our disappointment at the English Cricket Board's announcement of match venues for the men's Ashes in 2027. As you know, there will be no men's Ashes Test in the north of England in 2027 - meaning that this week at Old Trafford will be the last men's Ashes Test played in the North of England until 2031.

“Headingley and Old Trafford are two of England's most iconic cricket grounds, and home to historic Ashes moments. Very few grounds attract support as passionate or indeed as diverse as Headingley and Old Trafford - as a number of England players themselves have acknowledged in recent days,” the mayors wrote as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

The mayors have also pointed out that cricket needs to be spread across the country and thus, London shouldn’t get multiple games every year. They asked ECB to reconsider their decision and allot a couple to the northern territories for the growth Of the game.

“It does not feel right that at a time when cricket needs to do more to spread interest in the game around the country London consistently hosts three Tests every summer. Next year, for example, Lord's hosts one-third of England men's Tests whilst Headingley doesn't get any,” they added.