Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan has criticised the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) over sharp increases in Ashes ticket prices, warning that fans are being priced out of the sport's biggest series. His comments follow a 43% rise in the cost of the 2027 Test at Edgbaston, which he called "really poor", and he cautioned the ECB could face a backlash once supporters realise the scale of the increases, especially given the additional costs of travel, food and accommodation.

At Edgbaston, adult tickets start at £115 for the first three days, with members paying £92, and every ticket incurring a £2.50 booking fee; seats in the famous Hollies Stand have risen from £115 in 2023 to £165 for 2027. Vaughan estimated a family of four could pay close to £1,000 to attend. Edgbaston's operators defended the pricing as broadly in line with other major British sporting events such as Wimbledon and Silverstone, and roughly matching inflation since 2023, while noting rising costs across the venue. The 2027 Ashes ticket ballot opened this week, with prices even higher at Lord's and the Oval, and the series running from 18 June to late July across five grounds including Southampton's Utilita Bowl, hosting its first men's Ashes Test.