Cardiff to host first Ashes Test in 2015

Cardiff's SWALEC stadium will host the first Test of the 2015 Ashes series, when Australia travel to the northern hemisphere in search of a first win on English soil for 14 years.

In a busy summer schedule next year, England will face the 'old enemy' Australia - as well as New Zealand - during a four-month period that will include a total of seven Tests, 10 one-day internationals and two Twenty20 fixtures.

But there was disappointment for Old Trafford which missed out on a Test match during 2015 despite a multi-million pound re-development of the stadium.

The Manchester venue - where new England coach Peter Moores spent five years with Lancashire until earlier this year - will have to make do with two one-day internationals against Australia and one Twenty20 fixture with New Zealand.

New Zealand's tour of England will begin in May with tour matches against Somerset and Worcestershire before the two countries meet in the opening international action of the summer - the 1st Investec Test Match at Lords.

Australia will open their tour with two four-day fixtures against Kent and Essex, the first of these starting on June 25. Then it is on to Cardiff for the first Test.

"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."

Speaking about next year's trip to England, Australia's coach Darren Lehmann told Sky Sports News: "Logistically the itinerary is fine. The series will probably be bigger than the last one.

"Holding on to the Ashes will be important and we're excited by the schedule and the venues."

England v Australia:

1st Test: Cardiff SWALEC (July 8-12)

2nd Test: Lord's (July 16-20)

3rd Test: Edgbaston (Jul 29- August 2)

4th Test: Trent Bridge (August 6-10)

5th Test: Kia Oval (August 20-24)

T20: Cardiff SWALEC (August 31)

1st ODI: Ageas Bowl * (Southampton)(September 3)

2nd ODI: Lord's (September 5)

3rd ODI: Emirates Old Trafford * (September 8)

4th ODI: Headingley (September 11)

5th ODI: Emirates Old Trafford (September 13)

England v New Zealand:

1st Test: Lord's (May 21-25)

2nd Test: Headingley (May 29-June 2)

1st ODI: Edgbaston * (June 9)

2nd ODI: Kia Oval * (June 12)

3rd ODI: Ageas Bowl (Southampton) (June 14)

4th ODI: Trent Bridge * (June 17)

5th ODI: Emirates Durham ICG (June 20)

T20: Emirates Old Trafford (June 23)

* - Day/night matches