Glamorgan land first Ashes Test with Aussies

Apr 10 2008 by Gareth Griffiths, South Wales Echo

GLAMORGAN have achieved a major coup after the shock revelation the new SWALEC Stadium will host the FIRST Ashes Test next summer.

The Cardiff cricket ground was originally granted its first Test match in 2006 when it was announced they would be hosting an Ashes game in 2009.

And it is now set to be unveiled tomorrow by England and Wales Cricket Board chiefs as the opening venue for next summer’s showdown with the Aussies.

The first Test in Ashes series in England has traditionally been shared around, with Lord’s hosting the first game in the 2005 matches.

In addition to Cardiff and Headquarters, next summer’s other venues will be Edgbaston, Headingley and The Brit Oval.

The five-day match in the Welsh capital is due to begin on Wednesday, July 8, also a departure from the traditional start day of Thursday.

Since it was handed its first ever Test match, the Cardiff stadium has been transformed in a £9.4m facelift with the capacity rising from 5,500 to 15,643 in just under two years.

And the venue’s name has also changed from Sophia Gardens to The SWALEC Stadium following a major sponsorship agreement with the energy utility company.

The Aussies are no strangers to Cardiff and they have had mixed experiences of recent visits to the Welsh capital.

They used Cardiff as their base for their 1999 World Cup triumph, but six years later they also suffered one of the greatest upsets in cricketing history when they also lost by five wickets to Bangladesh in 2005 in a one-day international.

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