Ashes Venues: Headingley

Having staged what was arguably England's greatest ever Ashes comeback in 1981 and more recently the heroics of Ben Stokes in 2019, Headingley has become a staple venue in the battle for the urn.

This year it will host the third Test of the 2023 Ashes series in which 11/8 England face 6/5 Australia, with the draw 9/2.

What	Ashes Series 2023
Where	Five Tests matches at Edgbaston, Lord’s, Headingley, Old Trafford and The Oval
When	Series starts 11:00, Friday 16th June
How to watch	Sky Sports Cricket & Sky Sports Main Event
Odds	England 11/8, Draw 9/2, Australia 6/5

 

Where is Headingley?

Headingley, the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, is named after the suburb of Leeds in which it is situated and adjoins the Headingley Rugby Stadium via a shared main stand.
 

When is the 2023 Headingley Ashes Test?

The third Test of this year's Ashes series will take place at Headingley in Leeds from 11:00 on Thursday 6th July 2023.
 

Can I watch the 2023 Headingley Ashes Test?

Yes, the 2023 Ashes series will be shown live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event.
 

How many times has Headingley hosted an Ashes Test?

Headingley has hosted 25 Ashes Test matches, the first of which was in 1899 and most recent in 2019. 

Those matches have been pretty evenly contested, with England coming out on top eight times, eight matches finishing as draws and Australia winning nine.
 

What is England's overall Test record at Headingley?

Between 1899 and 2022, England played 79 Test matches at Headingley, winning 36 of them, losing 25 and drawing 18. 

However, they have won each of their last four Tests at the Leeds venue going back to 2018, having beaten Pakistan, Australia, India and New Zealand in that run.
 

What are the greatest Test matches in Headingley's history?

The Headingley Test played an integral part in 'Botham's Ashes' back in 1981. 

In the third Test of the series, England hit 500/1 with bookmakers to win the Test after following on 227 behind and slipping to 41-4 and then 105-5. But then Botham stepped up to the plate, blasting 149 and putting on 117 with lower-order batsman Graham Dilley to restore hope in the England camp. 

Australia required only 130 to win at that stage but then Bob Willis exploded into life with figures of 8-43 to bowl the tourists out for 111 and steer England to one of the greatest Test comebacks of all time. They went on to win the series 3-1. 

Headingley was the venue for another stunning comeback in 2019 when England had been set 359 to win against Australia and stay in the Ashes series. 

With the draw hanging by a thread, Stokes put on a heroic unbeaten 135 with Jack Leach standing firm at the other end on one not out, to get England to 362-9 and salvage a stalemate. 

In yet another landmark Ashes in 1930, Don Bradman was inspired as he struck 334 in a single innings at Headingley.
 

Are Headingley Test matches usually high-scoring?

The highest ever Test total at Headingley came back in 1993 when Australia declared on 653-4 against England and India are just behind them, having reached 628 against England in August 2002. 

Legend Bradman holds the record for the highest individual score at Headingley with his 334 in 1930, while English opener John Edrich famously scored 310 not out in 1965. 

It is regarded as a great batting track and teams often favour the chase in the shorter formats at the Leeds venue.
 

Which batters have the best records at Headingley?

Unsurprisingly it is Aussie ace Bradman who leads the way with the most Test runs scored at Headingley, having racked up 963 runs across six innings between 1930 and 1948. 

Yorkshire batsman Geoff Boycott also enjoyed many successful innings at Headingley, scoring 897 Test runs there throughout his career with a high score of 246 not out. 

Of those still playing today, former England captain Joe Root has scored the most Headingley Test runs with 642 and averaged 45.85 at the ground.
 

Which bowlers are favoured by conditions at Headingley?

In recent years, Headingley has become more balanced when it comes to the fight between bat and ball and fast bowlers can have a good time there. 

That is made clear by the fact Stuart Broad is the venue's most successful Test bowler with 49 wickets collected in 21 innings. 

James Anderson, England's all-time leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, is just behind Broad with 43 wickets of his own at Headingley.