Cardiff get Ashes opener, Old Trafford overlooked

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
Latest
-
News
England’s Dom Bess thinks pitch for Friday’s warm-up won’t be repeated in series
England finally took to the pitch in Hambantota for a low-key workout between Team Root and Team Buttler.
-
News
Proteas name Test squad for Pakistan tour
South Africa have named a 21-man touring party for the two-Test series in Pakistan.
-
News
Smith makes distinction between out of runs and out of form
Steve Smith put paid to the suggestion he was out of form with a fighting hundred against India.
-
News
England warm-up under way in Sri Lanka
The touring squad has returned a second round of clear Covid-19 tests following Moeen Ali’s positive result.
-
News
Jack Leach awaiting Covid vaccine news after ‘scary’ vulnerable classification
The England spinner takes medication for Crohn’s disease, leaving his immune system weakened.
-
News
Jonny Bairstow ready to tap into Jacques Kallis class during Sri Lanka tour
The England batsman is enthused about working with the Proteas great.
-
News
Heather Knight to lead England in ‘historic’ Pakistan tour
England Women will play two T20s and three ODIs in Karachi later this year.
-
News
Claire Polosak makes history as first woman to officiate a men’s Test
Claire Polosak continues to blaze a trail for women in umpiring.
-
News
Pooran insists West Indies will be a T20 World Cup threat
You would be foolish to discount the West Indies in the short format despite their poor run of late.
-
News
Andrew Balbirnie excited about Ireland’s year ahead
Ireland will play seven internationals in January, the same as the whole of 2020.