A Summer of Ashes on Two Fronts
There are summers that define a generation of cricket fans, and 2027 is shaping up to be one of them. England's men and women will both be chasing Ashes glory simultaneously, mirroring the format trialled successfully in 2023. The men's series gets underway at Trent Bridge on 18 June, with the women's multi-format campaign beginning just six days later on 24 June. As a former coach, I know how much logistical and psychological complexity running two elite series in parallel involves — but the reward in terms of public engagement is enormous. Bookmakers will already be framing their outright Ashes winner markets, and given England's recent struggles, Australia are likely to open as favourites on both fronts.
Men's Schedule: A Southern Swing With a Historic Twist
The men's five-Test series follows an intriguing geographical pattern. After the Trent Bridge opener, the action moves to Lord's for the second Test on 30 June, then to Edgbaston on 8 July. Perhaps the most eye-catching fixture is the fourth Test, which takes place at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton from 21 July — a ground that will become only the tenth venue in the UK ever to stage a men's Ashes Test. The series wraps up at the Kia Oval from 29 July. Notably, neither Emirates Old Trafford nor Headingley features in the men's schedule, a decision that drew criticism as far back as 2023 — including from Andy Burnham, now Prime Minister, who was then serving as Mayor of Greater Manchester. Northern cricket supporters will understandably feel hard done by.
England come into the series in a state of transition. They were beaten 4-1 in Australia last winter and are currently without a men's Test head coach following the dismissal of Brendon McCullum. That's a significant amount of rebuilding to do before a ball is bowled in anger. They'll use a one-off Test against Bangladesh at Lord's, starting 28 May, as preparation. Australia, meanwhile, will sharpen up with a warm-up fixture against England Lions at Old Trafford from 7 to 10 June — part of a new reciprocal arrangement designed to ensure both nations face quality opposition ahead of the main event.
Women's Series: Headingley Opener and a Long-Awaited Ambition
The women's multi-format series runs from 24 June through to 20 July, incorporating a four-day Test at Headingley, three T20 internationals (at Trent Bridge, The Oval and Old Trafford from 3 July), and three one-day internationals beginning on 13 July at Southampton, Lord's and Edgbaston. England Women are chasing history — they haven't won an Ashes Test since 2014, and their most recent series in Australia was a comprehensive 16-0 whitewash in the points-based format in 2025. The multi-format structure rewards Test victory with four points and each white-ball win with two, so the Headingley Test is arguably the single most important fixture of the women's summer.
What to Watch and What It All Means
BBC Test Match Special will provide ball-by-ball commentary across both series, with highlights available on BBC TV and iPlayer — a huge boost for accessibility. It's also worth noting that England's mixed disability men's team will face Australia next summer, though the schedule is yet to be confirmed, adding another layer to what is already a landmark summer. From a betting perspective, England's men will need to shorten considerably from what will likely be long odds given their current instability; a settled coaching appointment and a strong Bangladesh Test could meaningfully shift the market ahead of the Trent Bridge opener. One thing is certain — 2027 cannot come quickly enough.
