Edgbaston to host opening 2019 Ashes test
Edgbaston Stadium will host the opening test of the 2019 Specsavers Ashes series between England and Australia, it has been announced.
The ground will host the opening test from August 1-5, having been re-introduced to the historic series in 2015, after the ground was overlooked two years prior in 2013.
“England have an outstanding record in Birmingham and we believe that there is nowhere better for Joe Root’s team to start the Specsavers Ashes Series than in-front of a full house of passionate fans at Fortress Edgbaston," Neil Snowball, chief executive of Warwickshire CCC and Edgbaston Stadium, said.
“The last Ashes Test in 2015 was a fantastic occasion and those in attendance experienced Edgbaston at its atmospheric best as England recorded an eight-wicket victory and went two-one up in the series."
England cruised to an eight wicket victory the last time Edgbaston hosted an Ashes test, with Steven Finn providing a phenomenal second innings bowling display - putting the hosts on the way to success in the Second City.
England eventually won the series 3-2.
In total, Edgbaston will host 11 days of major match cricket during the 2019 summer, with the venue having already been awarded five marquee fixtures in the ICC Cricket World Cup, which takes place in England and Wales between 30 May and 14 July.
“The 2019 international fixture list demonstrates how Edgbaston Stadium continues to be a global sporting venue for thousands of cricket fans each year.
"Its exciting 11-day programme of major match cricket is set to entertain visitors from across the world," Nicola Hewitt, commercial director at the West Midlands Growth Company, which operates leisure tourism programme Visit Birmingham said.
“We are set to witness a great year of cricket in 2019, welcoming the first Test of the Ashes as well as several ICC Cricket World Cup fixtures.
"Birmingham’s strong track record in hosting international sports events, with the 2022 Commonwealth Games also firmly on the horizon, is a key reason why our local tourism sector continues to grow – with visitor numbers, spend and hotel revenue at record highs.”
Tickets for the First Test of the Specsavers Ashes Series at Edgbaston will initially be available to Warwickshire CCC Members, who have a priority booking window from 20 August to 12 September.
Following this period, purchasers for this year’s England versus India Specsavers Test match at Edgbaston will have a one-week priority booking window from 13 September.
Any tickets remaining from these priority booking periods will be available via a public ballot, which fans will need to pre-register for at www.edgbaston.com.
Edgbaston’s 2019 Major Match Schedule:
Wed 19 Jun - New Zealand v South Africa - ICC Cricket World Cup
Wed 26 Jun - New Zealand v Pakistan - ICC Cricket World Cup
Sun 30 Jun - England v India - ICC Cricket World Cup
Tue 2 Jul - Bangladesh v India - ICC Cricket World Cup
Thu 11 Jul - Semi-Final 2 - ICC Cricket World Cup
Thu 1-Mon 5 Aug - England v Australia - 1st Specsavers Ashes Test match
Sat 21 Sep - Vitality Blast Finals Day
