Hampshire's Rose Bowl to become Test venue

The Rose Bowl will become the country's 10th Test venue in 2011 when it stages the second game of the three-match series against Sri Lanka. Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove said: "This is a truly historic day for the Rose Bowl and Hampshire Cricket.

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"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."

Hampshire will join Cardiff in hosting Test cricket for the first time, with Sophia Gardens yesterday confirmed as the venue for the opening Ashes Test on July 8 next summer.

Glamorgan chairman Paul Russell said: "Hosting the first Ashes Test in 2009 is really a great honour for any new ground.

"For such a prestigious game to be the first Test match at a new stadium must be a first in world cricket."

The five-match Ashes series continues with clashes at Lord's (July 20), Edgbaston (July 30), Headingley (August 7) and The Oval (August 20).

Sophia Gardens and the Rose Bowl have been rewarded for investing millions in ground development.

As well as maiden Test next year, Cardiff will host the opening match of the 2011 Sri Lanka series and one-day matches against Australia in 2010 and India the following summer.

The Rose Bowl was also awarded one-day internationals against Australia for the next two summers.

Old Trafford is again the big loser in the Test stakes, with no such match 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 an 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."

Equally, there is no Test match for Durham in 2010 or 2011 but they were pleased with one-dayers against Australia, West Indies and India between 2009-11 and Twenty20 Cup Finals Day in 2011.

Club chairman Clive Leach said: "We're thrilled that three-top class one day sides will be visiting Riverside in the next three years.

"To be awarded the showpiece of the domestic Twenty20 Cup is a huge honour, we're really looking forward to it."

The announcement of the Test match, one-day international, Twenty20 and domestic final schedule until the end of 2011 was delivered yesterday.

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

MMG chairman Lord Morris explained the decision-making process, saying: "We were presented with 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."