Cardiff get Ashes opener, Old Trafford overlooked

Australia

Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, Wales, will host the first Ashes Test next year.

Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, Wales, will host the first Ashes Test next year.

The second, third, fourth and fifth Tests will be played at Lord's, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge and The Oval respectively.

Chester-le-Street in Durham, The Rose Bowl in Southampton and Old Trafford in Manchester have been overlooked. The latter venue, however, has been afforded two of Australia and England's five ODIs.

The Australians are the current holders of the coveted title on the back of a five-nil series triumph earlier this year – on the back of fast bowler Mitchell Johnson's Player of the Series performance.

The English have since replaced head coach Andy Flower with Lancashire's Peter Moores and selector Ashley Giles with Nottinghamshire's Mick Newell, fired batting coach Graham Gooch – and hired former Sri Lanka head coach Paul Farbrace as assistant coach.

The England and Wales Cricket Board, too, have confirmed a two-Test series against New Zealand – at Lord's and Headingley – will precede Australia's arrival.

"Next summer promises to be a hugely exciting international season with England's bid to regain the Ashes set to be one of the major highlights of the sporting year," said ECB chief executive David Collier.

"We're also delighted to be hosting New Zealand again across all three formats of the international game and would like to thank all those county and international venues who will be hosting our touring teams next year."

<b>New Zealand tour itinerary</b><br>New Zealand v Somerset, Taunton, 8 to 11 May<br>New Zealand v Worcestershire, New Road, 14 to 17 May<br>First Test, Lord's, 21 to 25 May<br>Second Test, Headingley, 29 May to 2 June<br>New Zealand v Leicestershire, Grace Road, 6 June

First ODI, Edgbaston, 9 June<br>Second ODI, The Oval, 12 June<br>Third ODI, Southampton, 14 June<br>Fourth ODI, Trent Bridge, 17 June<br>Fifth ODI, Chester-le-Street, 20 June<br>One-off T20I, Old Trafford, 23 June

<b>Australia tour itinerary</b><br>Australia v Kent, Canterbury 25 to 28 June<br>Australia v Essex, Chelmsford, 1 to 4 July<br>First Test, 8 to 12 July, Cardiff<br>Second Test, Lord's, 16 to 20 July<br>Australia v Derbyshire, Derby, 23 to 25 July<br>Third Test, Edgbatson, 29 July to 2 August<br>Fourth Test, Trent Bridge, 6 to 10 August<br>Australia v Northamptonshire, Northampton, 14 to 16 August<br>Fifth Test, 20 to 24 August, The Oval<br>

Only ODI ODI, Ireland v Australia, venue TBC, 27 August<br>One-off T20I, Cardiff, 31 August<br>First ODI, Southampton, 3 September<br>Second ODI, Lord's, 5 September<br>Third ODI, 8 September, Old Trafford<br>Fourth ODI, 11 September, Headingley<br>Fifth ODI, 13 September, Old Trafford

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