LONDON, April 11: Cardiff will stage the first Test in next year’s Ashes series between England and Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Friday.

It will be the first Test ever played in the Welsh capital.

In a statement the ECB said the remaining Tests would be staged at Lord’s, Edgbaston, Headingley and The Oval.

The match at Sophia Gardens will start on Wednesday July 8 rather than the traditional Thursday.

“Already there is great expectation surrounding the Ashes series which will followed the 2009 Twenty20 world championships in an exciting summer of cricket for cricket followers,” said ECB Chief Executive David Collier.

The ECB further said the Rose Bowl near Southampton was set to become England’s 10th Test match venue by staging a Test against Sri Lanka in 2011.

Ashes schedule:

First Test: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (July 8-12)

Second Test: Lord’s, London (July 16-20)

Third Test: Edgbaston, Birmingham (July 30-Aug 3)

Fourth Test: Headingley, Leeds (Aug 7-11)

Fifth Test: The Oval, London (Aug 20-24).—Reuters