Ageas Bowl to host its maiden Men’s Ashes Test in 2027

Southampton’s Ageas Bowl will host a Men’s Ashes Test for the primary time in 2027 following the announcement of venues for England’s house worldwide matches from 2025-31.

The Ageas Bowl, which hosts its first Women’s Ashes ODI on July 16, may even stage its first Women’s Ashes Test in 2031, with the 2027 version to be performed at Headingley.

In 2027, England Men will play Tests towards Australia at Lord’s, The Kia Oval, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge and The Ageas Bowl. In 2031, they contest 5 Tests at Lord’s, The Kia Oval, Emirates Old Trafford, Headingley and Trent Bridge.

After internet hosting its first Test towards Sri Lanka in 2011, the Ageas Bowl staged two Tests towards India in 2014 and 2018 earlier than coming into its personal within the Covid-affected summer season of 2020, with bio-secure Tests towards West Indies and Pakistan, in addition to white-ball fixtures towards Ireland and Australia serving to the ECB fulfil its broadcast commitments.

Rod Bransgrove, the Hampshire chairman who has lengthy campaigned for an Ashes Test to be staged on the floor, described the allocations as “a game-changer for the prospects of Hampshire Cricket and The Ageas Bowl”, with the venue additionally confirming that this 12 months would mark the top of a 12-year affiliation with insurance coverage firm, Ageas.

“The Ashes fixture in 2027 will be a historic moment for Hampshire Cricket, the Ageas Bowl and for cricket in general as England and Australia engage in a Test Match for the first time at our bespoke venue,” Bransgrove stated. “It represents the realisation of a long-held ambition; a dream come true.

“For all our devoted employees, each previous and current, the allocation of this match, the ladies’s Ashes Test in 2031, and the broader worldwide and Test match programme over this seven-year interval, represents full recognition of their superb dedication and dedication over the previous 20 years.”

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 between 2025-31, with The Kia Oval, Edgbaston, Headingley, Emirates Old Trafford, Trent Bridge and the The Ageas Bowl each hosting the team at least four times during that period. England Women’s internationals will also continue to be hosted at other venues around the country.

Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said: “This 12 months’s Men’s and Women’s Ashes are solely days away, however followers can already begin trying ahead to extra nice clashes up and down the nation within the years forward.

“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 asserting preparations for the subsequent seven years, we’re additionally giving venues long-term certainty in order that they’ll make investments sustainably into stadium enhancements and improved fan experiences.”

This year’s Men’s Ashes begins at Edgbaston on Friday and the multi-format Women’s Ashes starts with a Test at Trent Bridge on June 22.

Edgbaston will stay the house of Vitality Blast Finals Day.