It would be 'nice to have choice' over Ashes venues - Root

Joe Root reflected on England’s recent three‑day innings victory over Pakistan, calling it an ideal start to his second spell as captain. The win extended England’s tally of successes at Headingley, a run that began in 2018, while the team’s longest winning streak on a different ground remains six at Chester‑le‑Street. The decision to leave Headingley and Old Trafford out of the 2027 Ashes roster was announced in 2023, but the fixture allocation returned to focus after the schedule for next year’s series was confirmed in July. Nottingham’s Trent Bridge will host the most northerly men’s Ashes Test, with Southampton staging its first England‑Australia Test, and Headingley set to hold a women’s Ashes match instead. Headingley staged men’s Ashes Tests in 2019 and 2023, both won by England. The 2019 triumph, inspired by Ben Stokes, ranks among the most legendary contests in Ashes history and is often compared to Ian Botham’s heroics of 1981 on the same ground. Overall, England’s record of nine home Ashes wins at Leeds is bettered only by their 17 at The Oval; The Oval has hosted 36 Ashes Tests compared with Headingley’s 26. “I would emotion to play arsenic galore games arsenic imaginable here,” said Root. “It's a large Test-match venue, a aboveground that provides superb Test cricket, and 1 we've had rather a batch of occurrence connected recently.” “It's a shame we don't get to play present adjacent year, but I'm definite we volition spot many, galore much superb Test matches here.” Headingley is scheduled to host a men’s Ashes Test again in 2031, following the statement from England and Wales Cricket that it will ensure at least one Test in Leeds or Manchester for each home Ashes series. Southampton will receive a Test in alternate men’s home Ashes fixtures.