Cardiff get Ashes opener, Old Trafford overlooked

Cricket365
May 12, 2014

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."

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

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

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

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