Cardiff will stage the first Test of next summer's Ashes series and Hampshire's Rose Bowl will also host a Test match for the first time in 2011, the England and Wales Cricket Board have announced.

The redeveloped Swalec Stadium will start the five-Test series on 8 July, with the subsequent Tests at Lord's, Edgbaston, Headingley and the Oval.

The Rose Bowl will become the country's 10th Test venue two summers later when it hosts the second game of the three-match series against Sri Lanka, with Cardiff staging the first Test.

David Collier, the ECB chief executive, said: "Already there is great expectation surrounding the npower Ashes Test Series, which will follow the 2009 Twenty20 World Championships in an exciting summer of cricket.

"We have been in full consultation with the England management about the structure of the series and our summer programme in 2009 and this was ECB's preferred programme.

"I think everyone is now looking forward to the summer with relish."

Kevin Pietersen, who made his Test debut in the first match of the victorious 2005 Ashes series, added: "I'm looking forward to facing the Australian team again on home soil.

"The 2009 npower Ashes Series promises some great cricket at some great venues and no doubt some tough challenges along the way."

James Sutherland, Cricket Australia's chief executive, said: "While it's still more than a year away, the 2009 Ashes series is already generating significant interest both here and in the UK.

"The 2005 series was a remarkable contest and the catalyst for huge growth in our game in Australia and the UK. I'm sure that the 2009 Ashes will be another eagerly-anticipated series."

Today also saw the announcement of the Test match, one-day international, Twenty20 and domestic final schedule until the end of 2011.

It was endorsed by the ECB board this week following recommendations from the independent Major Match Group, chaired by Lord Morris of Handsworth.

As well as a maiden Test in 2011, the Rose Bowl was awarded one-day internationals against Australia for the next two summers.

Rod Bransgrove, the Hampshire chairman, said: "This is a truly historic day for the Rose Bowl and Hampshire Cricket. This is the culmination of an enormous amount of hard work and dedication and yes, it is the fulfilment of a personal dream.

"It is important that this is not seen as 'mission accomplished' though, as we fully intend to be a permanent fixture on the Test match calendar from 2011 onwards."

Old Trafford is again the big loser in the Test match stakes, with no Test planned at the ground from 2009-11, although the venue for the first Test against Bangladesh in 2010 has yet to be confirmed.

But Lancashire were delighted to be awarded two Twenty20 internationals against Australia in 2009 and a ODI against the same opponents the following year.

Chief executive Jim Cumbes said: "After missing out on an Ashes Test match, we are thrilled to be hosting Australia three times in two years."

MMG chairman Lord Morris explained the decision-making process, saying: "We were presented with a more than 200 excellent and professional bids for the ECB major matches until the end of the 2011 season.

"The MMG examined each and every one against our balanced scorecard which specifically rewards grounds for the excellence of their facilities.

"We have nominated the venues that were best suited and most deserved to be awarded the major matches."

2009 Ashes Series: England v Australia

1st Test Cardiff: Wednesday, 8 July - Sunday, 12 July
2nd Test Lord's: Thursday, 16 July - Monday, 20 July
3rd Test Edgbaston: Thursday, 30 July - Monday, 3 August
4th Test Headingley: Friday, 7 August - Tuesday, 11 August
5th Test The Oval: Thursday, 20 August - Monday, 24 August

One-day internationals: Rose Bowl, Lord's, The Oval, Lord's, Trent Bridge, Trent Bridge, Riverside
Twenty20 internationals: Old Trafford (two matches)

The schedule for the one-day series is expected to be confirmed by the end of April.

Other venues announced (with dates still to be confirmed):

2009

World Twenty20: Lord's, The Oval, Trent Bridge
World Twenty20 (women's): Taunton (group matches), Lord's (final)
Tests v Zimbabwe (provisional - as Zimbabwe have not played Test cricket since September 2005 and are unlikely to
return until they can prove they can be competitive at international level) : Lord's, Riverside
ODIs v Zimbabwe: Headingley, Edgbaston, Bristol
Twenty20 Cup finals day: Edgbaston
Friends Provident Trophy final: Lord's

2010

Tests v Bangladesh: Venue TBC, Headingley
ODIs v Bangladesh: Trent Bridge, Bristol
Tests v West Indies: Lord's, Trent Bridge, Edgbaston, The Ova
ODIs v West Indies: Rose Bowl, The Oval, Headingley, Riverside, Lord's
ODIs v Australia: Cardiff, Rose Bowl, The Oval, Lord's, Old Trafford
Twenty20 internationals: TBC
Twenty20 Cup finals day: Rose Bowl
Friends Provident Trophy final: Lord's

2011

Tests v Sri Lanka: Cardiff, Rose Bowl, Lord's
ODIs v Sri Lanka: Trent Bridge, Headingley, Edgbaston, The Oval, Old Trafford
Tests v India: Lord's, Trent Bridge, Edgbaston, The Oval
ODIs v India: Cardiff, Riverside, Rose Bowl, The Oval, Lord's
Twenty20 internationals: Two from Headingley, Bristol, Old Trafford and Riverside
Twenty20 Cup finals day: Riverside
Friends Provident Trophy final: Lord's

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