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Edgbaston and Old Trafford handed Ashes Tests

England retained the Ashes with a draw at Old Trafford last summer © Getty Images

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Warwickshire and Lancashire are the big winners from the latest allocation of major matches, with both counties allocated an Ashes Test in 2019. Both grounds have also been recommended to host a World Cup semi-final.

Edgbaston and Old Trafford have improved significantly in recent seasons following major investment, with Warwickshire's work recognised at the recent Business of Cricket Awards.

They and Lancashire and will now host Australia in five years' time. The Oval and Headingley were already guaranteed Ashes Tests for 2019 under a long-term staging agreement.

Of the six traditional Test grounds, Trent Bridge is the venue to miss out on an Ashes Test but will host Tests against South Africa in 2017 and India in 2018. Twenty20 Finals Day will also return to Nottinghamshire in 2019.

Lord's, predictably, was given a large allocation of major matches, retaining their two Tests per season and also being recommended to the ICC as the venue for the 2019 World Cup final .

London's other ground, The Oval, will host the final of the Champions Trophy in 2017 and retains it's Test against the major tourists each summer. Edgbaston and Cardiff were named as the other host venues for the Champions Trophy with the ECB keen to replicate the proven formula of 2013.

But the Ageas Bowl was again left frustrated after being overlooked for an Ashes Test - Rod Bransgrove's dream of bringing Australia to the south coast for a Test goes on. Hampshire were awarded another Test against India for 2017, despite very poor crowds for the same fixture last season.

Bristol, after a £10 million upgrade, has been awarded an ODI in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and will also host a further four matches of the 2019 World Cup. In further good news for the Westcountry, Taunton will make it's debut as an international venue when it hosts a T20 against South Africa in 2017 and will also stage three World Cup games.

The announcement represents the largest number of games allocated at the same time by the ECB as they attempt to provide counties with the ability to form a more stable long-term financial plan.

"The board commissioned international consulting firm Deloitte to examine very carefully the financial condition of all our major match venues," ECB chairman Giles Clarke said. "A significant amount of work was carried out with the ECB executive and the first class counties to ensure that these awards are made on a new financial basis which involves the share of risk between the ECB and the grounds. It means that grounds are incentivised to sell out while providing the best possible spectator experience.

"These awards have been made with the confidence that at the end of this period our venues will be in a much strengthened financial position which will be of real benefit to the game in England and Wales as it will significantly allow substantial debt repayments."

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