The Ashes is returning to its birthplace as the Kia Oval gets ready to stage the biggest matches of international cricket in 2027. Alongside hosting the greatest cricketing rivalry in cricket, the World Test Championship Final is also coming back to south London next summer.
Once again, the Kia Oval will host the final Test Match of the men’s Rothesay Ashes (Thu 29 July – Mon 2 Aug) after Nat Sciver-Brunt’s England take on Australia in the second Vitality WIT20 (Tue 6 July) as part of their multi-format Metro Bank Ashes series.
The attention of the cricketing world will be firmly on the Oval ahead of the Ashes as well, when the best two men’s Test teams go head-to-head in the grand finale of the World Test Championship (Wed 9 – Sun 13 June). After staging a sold-out final between Australia and India in 2023, the showpiece match is returning to south London for the second time.
In what is set to be a historic summer, Nat Sciver Brunt’s England will be hoping to exact revenge on their rivals Australia following the defeat in the T20 World Cup Final. The Kia Oval is England women’s happy hunting ground, having won six out of six WIT20s in south London, including the previous Ashes clash which began the Three Lions’ comeback in 2023.
England men will be aiming to win back the Ashes for the first time since 2015. Their last Test Match against Australia at the Kia Oval remains etched in history after Stuart Broad had the final say in a compelling contest and retired in heroic fashion.
2027 international summer
Wednesday 9 June – Sunday 13 June: ICC World Test Championship Final – Kia Oval, 10:30am
Tuesday 6 July: 2nd Vitality WIT20 – Kia Oval, 6:30pm
Thursday 29 July – Monday 2 August: 5th Rothesay Ashes Test – Kia Oval, 11:00am
On the international schedule at the Kia Oval, Steve Elworthy, CEO at Surrey, said “The Ashes were born in south London and next summer will be the latest instalment of the most compelling rivalry in the game as we welcome England’s men and women to take on Australia once again.
“It’s an honour to host the biggest games in cricket and it doesn’t get much bigger than the ICC World Test Championship Final. We were very proud to host the final in 2023, which saw a fascinating Test played out in front of a packed stadium.
“We are looking forward once again to working with the ICC and ECB to put on a show for cricket fans around the world.”
On the return of WTC Final to the Oval, Gaurav Saxena, ICC General Manager, Events & Operations, said: “The ICC World Test Championship Final has established itself as one of the most prestigious occasions in the global cricket calendar, bringing together the two best Test teams in the world after two years of sustained excellence and consistency.
“The confirmation of The Oval as the venue for the 2027 Final is another testament to the strong and collaborative partnership between the ICC and the ECB. This partnership was showcased through the outstanding success of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where both organisations worked seamlessly together to deliver several landmark moments for women’s sport and create an unforgettable experience for players, fans and the wider cricket community.
“The 2027 World Test Championship Final will hold special significance as cricket celebrates 150 years of Test cricket. The Oval has played a proud role in the history of our sport and has hosted some of its most memorable moments. We look forward to working closely with the ECB to deliver another world-class event that celebrates the enduring legacy of Test cricket and creates lasting memories for fans around the world.”
On the unmatched drama of the Ashes, Richard Gould, Chief Executive Officer at ECB, said: “The Ashes is the pinnacle of our sport. The last time Australia were here made for captivating cricket, in a way that only the Ashes can provide, as both of our Men’s and Women’s teams fought back to level the series in dramatic circumstances.”
