BEN Stokes has joined Joe Root in questioning the venues for next summer’s Ashes, saying it is “shambolic” that Headingley will not host a Test.
Root, who both preceded and succeeded Stokes as Test captain, said “it would be nice to have a choice” over the grounds where his England team play as they leave Yorkshire until 2029.
England’s crushing victory over Pakistan is their seventh consecutive win in Leeds, their longest current winning streak at any ground in the world.
But they do not return for a men’s Test at Headingley for three years, meaning they will not have the advantage of playing on this ground in next summer’s home Ashes series.
Root said it was a “shame” but Stokes, who retired from international cricket in June, was more critical.
“Shame is an understatement,” he wrote on his Instagram story. “Shambolic would be more appropriate.”
It was put to Root that Australia would be unlikely to give up the advantage of hosting England at their most successful venues when the urn is contested down under.
Australia has not lost an Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane since 1986, or been beaten by England in Perth since 1978.
“Obviously this is a slightly different system here and a different way that things are done,” said Yorkshire batter Root.
“I think I should probably stay in my lane and understand that it’s someone else’s job to sort out. As a player, you want to play at the grounds you have most success at as a team, clearly.
“It’s one that we generally do well at and I love playing here – as the Yorkshireman I have to say that from birth, so I’m glad it’s the case.”
For Root, the innings victory sealed inside three days against Pakistan was the ideal start to his second spell as captain.
It also extended England’s run of wins at Headingley, which began in 2018. Their longest winning streak at another ground is six at Chester-le-Street.
The decision for Headingley and Old Trafford to miss out on the 2027 Ashes roster was announced in 2023.
But the match allocation has once again come into focus after the schedule for next year’s series was confirmed in July.
Nottingham’s Trent Bridge will be the most northerly ground to host a men’s Ashes Test, with Southampton given an England-Australia Test for the first time. Headingley will instead host a women’s Ashes Test.
Headingley staged a men’s Ashes Test in 2019 and 2023, both matches England won. The 2019 win, inspired by Stokes, was one of the most legendary contests in Ashes history, ranking alongside Ian Botham’s heroics of 1981 on the same ground.
Overall, England’s record of nine home Ashes wins in Leeds is bettered only by their 17 at The Oval, and The Oval has hosted 36 Ashes Tests compared to Headingley’s 26.
“I would love to play as many games as possible here,” said Root. “It’s a great Test-match venue, a surface that provides brilliant Test cricket, and one we’ve had quite a lot of success on recently.
“It’s a shame we don’t get to play here next year, but I’m sure we will see many, many more brilliant Test matches here.”
Headingley will next host a men’s Ashes Test in 2031, from when the England and Wales Cricket Board has said it will keep at least one Test in Leeds or Manchester in the allocation for every home Ashes series. Southampton will get a Test in alternate men’s home Ashes.(BBC Sport)