The Ashes 2023 promises to be another thrilling contest as fierce rivals England and Australia meet once again and do battle for the famous urn.
Here we look at the five Ashes venues, England’s record at each ground and the schedule for the five-match series.
1st Test, Edgbaston
Dates: June 16-20
Capacity: 25,000
England record: Played 54, won 29, lost 10, drawn 15.
Renowned as one of the best atmospheres in the country due to the reliably uproarious Eric Hollies Stand, it had also started to sell itself as a England’s “fortress” following a healthy run of success there. Australia’s victory in 2019 punctured the aura a little, but it remains a popular starting point for the biggest series of all.
2nd Test, Lord’s
Dates: June 28 – July 2
Capacity: 31,180
England record: Played 142, won 57, lost 34, drawn 51.
The historic ‘home of cricket’ and still perhaps the most famous ground in the world. A place on the famed Lord’s honours board remains one of the sport’s most prized accolades and the shots of players entering the field of play through the Long Room are part of the fabric of English summers. Sometimes guilty of serving up a sterile pitch, but work has been done to address that after an appeal for lively surfaces.
3rd Test, Headingley
Dates: July 6-10
Capacity: 18,350
England record: Played 79, won 36, lost 25, drawn 18.
Not the prettiest and not the biggest on the circuit, but a place where special things can happen and one of the most famous Ashes venues. For years, it was assumed that Sir Ian Botham’s Ashes miracle of 1981 would stand unchallenged as a magical moment but Ben Stokes produced something just as special to pen his own special chapter against Australia in 2019. The Western Terrace is always eager to have its say.
4th Test, Old Trafford
Dates: July 19-23
Capacity: 22,500
England record: Played 82, won 32, lost 15, drawn 35.
Lancashire’s home is a favourite among players, who feel that the pitch offers something for everyone. Seamers enjoy the carry and bounce, spinners find the ball lifts and turns as the game goes on and batters get value for their efforts once settled. England have lost only once here in their last 16 visits – against Australia four years ago.
5th Test, The Oval
Dates: July 27-31
Capacity: 27,500
England record: Played 104, won 44, lost 23, drawn 37.
A ground that is steeped in Ashes history. The first Test on English soil came here in 1880, the defeat that gave birth to the Ashes mythology occurred two years later and, more recently, Michael Vaughan’s side closed out their famous 2005 in front of a delirious Oval crowd. By convention, the English Test summer ends here and do not bet against another memorable decider.
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