Cardiff hosts Ashes opener

	Cardiff's early forays as an international venue have had mixed weather © PA Photos Enlarge
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Cardiff will host the opening Investec Ashes Test Match next summer, reviving memories of the ground's inaugural Test in 2009 when England's last pair James Anderson and Monty Panesar clung on for a famous draw on the final day of a nervewracking Ashes encounter.

The chance to launch the series is another fillip for Cardiff, which has had mixed results with weather and attendance levels since financial support from the Welsh Assembly raised its profile as an international venue.

The city is also in contention with London and Singapore as a potential headquarters of the ICC in succession to Dubai.

The commitment to award Cardiff an Ashes was made three years ago, since when the ground's ability to implant itself as a major international venue for cricket has had a mixed reception. The city was also chosen as one of the three venues for last year's Champions Trophy.

Lord's, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge and The Kia Oval will also stage Tests as England attempt to recover from their 5-0 mauling in Australia last winter and regain the famous Ashes urn. That would demand that they won a fourth successive home Ashes series following their previous triumphs in 2005, 2009 and 2013.

Confirmation of the schedule is again a sharp reminder of a creeping north-south divide in English cricket. An Ashes Test is the premier attraction in English cricket, but there are no Ashes Tests for Old Trafford, Headingley, or Chester-Le-Street - even though the first two grounds are replete in history and expensively upgraded.

Headingley, which is the only venue where Australia have beaten England in the past two tours, does not appear by mutual consent because Yorkshire, heavily in debt, dare not risk the financial outlay. But Old Trafford will feel in absence heavily. The city is on the up, the ground transformed, but the Australians elsewhere.

After the Ashes, England and Australia will do battle again in a NatWest IT20 in Cardiff before five 50-over matches at the The Ageas Bowl, Lord's, Emirates Old Trafford and Headingley hosting matches in the Royal London One-Day International series.

New Zealand's tour of England will begin in May with tour matches against Somerset and Worcestershire before the two countries meet in Tests at Lords and Headingley. ODIs are scheduled for Edgbaston, The Oval, The Ageas Bowl, Trent Bridge and Chester-le-Street. Old Trafford hosts a NatWest IT20.

New Zealand itinerary: May 8-11: Somerset, 4 days, Taunton; May 14-17: Worcestershire, 4 days, New Road; May 21-25: 1st Investec Test, Lord's; May 29-June 2: 2nd Test, Headingley; June 6: Leicestershire, 50 overs, Grace Road; June 9: Royal London ODI (D/N), Edgbaston; June 12: ODI (D/N), Kia Oval; June 14: ODI, Ageas Bowl; June 17: ODI (D/N), Trent Bridge; June 20: ODI, Emirates Durham; June 23: NatWest T20I (F), Emirates Old Trafford.

Australia itinerary: June 25-28, Kent, 4 days, Canterbury; July 1-4, Essex, 4 days, Chelmsford; July 8-12: Investec Test, Swalec Stadium, Cardiff; July 16-20: 2nd Test, Lord's; July 23-25: Derbyshire, 3 days, Derby; July 29-Aug 2, 3rd Test, Edgbaston; Aug 6-10: 4th Test, Trent Bridge; Aug 14-16: Northants, 3 days, Northampton; Aug 20-24, 5th Test, Northants, Northampton; Aug 27: Ireland, ODI, TBC; Aug 31: NatWest T20I, Swalec, Cardiff; Sep 3: Royal London ODI, Ageas Bowl; Sep 5: ODI, Lord's; Sep 8: ODI, Emirates Old Trafford; Sep 11: ODI, Headingley; Sep 13: ODI, Emirates Old Trafford.

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