Decision on npower Test venues 2007-09

How Sophia Gardens will look after the redevelopment

Following an extensive review led by Sir William Morris OJ and John Pickup, the ECB Board commissioned a Major Match Group (MMG) to recommend to the Board the accreditation of venues to stage international matches, the award of Staging Agreements and the allocation of Major Matches in England and Wales.

The Major Match Group has recommended, and the Board has endorsed, the offer of three year Staging Agreements for the period 2007–09 to Bristol, Cardiff, Chester-le-Street, Old Trafford and the Rose Bowl. These venues join the Brit Oval, Edgbaston, Headingley, Lord’s and Trent Bridge in securing Staging Agreements through 2009.

The MMG reviewed reports from Inspection Teams and has recommended to the Board the upgrade to Category A Accredited Venue status for Cardiff.

This award enables Cardiff to be awarded Test matches in future years on completion of a ground development plan.

The Brit Oval, Cardiff, Chester-le-Street and the Rose Bowl applied for International Match Floodlit Accreditation for permanent floodlights based upon detailed specifications and these grounds have been provisionally accredited in this Category.

An artist's impression of the new improved stadium

The MMG recommended the award of npower Test matches to complete the schedule for 2007–09 at their meeting on April 19, 2006 to the Board.

They are as follows (venues in alphabetical order):

2007

npower Test matches versus West Indies
Chester-le-Street, Headingley, Lord’s and Old Trafford

npower Test matches versus India
The Brit Oval, Lord’s and Trent Bridge

2008

npower Test matches v New Zealand
Lord’s, Old Trafford and Trent Bridge

npower Test matches v South Africa
The Brit Oval, Edgbaston, Headingley and Lord’s

2009

npower Test matches v Zimbabwe
Lord’s and other venue to be determined

npower Test matches v Australia
The Brit Oval, Cardiff, Edgbaston, Headingley and Lord’s

One-Day Internationals, Twenty20 Internationals and Domestic Cup Finals will be determined at meetings on May 3, 2006.

Chairman of the MMG Sir William Morris OJ commented: "The Major Match Group has followed an open and transparent process in awarding Major Matches and Staging Agreements. We have published a Balanced Scorecard against which submissions have been evaluated and Inspection Teams have visited venues to award levels of accreditation against clear and agreed criteria.

"Cricket, following the Ashes success, has proven to be one of the major drivers of inbound tourism in the sports and leisure sector. As a result forward thinking Regional and National Development Agencies have recognised the significant economic value which world class facilities and the award of Major Matches can bring to their Region.

"The economic value of these awards has therefore increased to the benefit of cricket at all levels and the MMG will be closely monitoring the maintenance and development of world class facilities in the award of future matches.

"We are proud of the fact that the MMG and the Board has developed a broad range of criteria in the award of Major Matches. For the spectator we take into account cost of tickets, accessibility of the venue, quality of facilities and a geographic spread of matches; for the players we require high-quality playing and practice surfaces, changing rooms and medical facilities and for cricket we seek to optimise financial returns to reinvest in all levels of the game.

"There has been a significant excess of demand over supply for the matches which have been awarded. We congratulate Cardiff on joining the list of Category A (Test Match) Venues and to express our gratitude for the support which the Glamorgan Club has received from the Welsh Assembly and Cardiff City Council for their development plans.

"We congratulate all venues in high quality submissions and on the award of these matches."

Another view of the planned redevelopment

Paul Russell, Chairman of Glamorgan, commented: "This is an historic day for cricket in Wales. The award of an npower Ashes Test match will build on the Welsh Assembly’s exciting programme for the development of tourism through sport exemplified by the Ryder Cup in 2010 and the determination of the City Council to enhance the reputation of Cardiff as a major sporting venue building on the success of the Millennium Stadium.

"Glamorgan County Cricket Club has created a robust business plan and a vision which makes Glamorgan a leading force in cricket throughout England and Wales. The development of Sophia Gardens will transform the venue into a modern, world class stadium and help Glamorgan Cricket enthuse a new generation of cricket players whilst providing tangible benefit to the economy in Wales and to Glamorgan cricket."

In addition to Cardiff the two Category A venues awarded Staging Agreements by the Major Match Group were also awarded Test matches.

Chester-le-Street’s continued development as a Category A (Test Match) Venue following the successful hosting of Test Matches versus Zimbabwe and Bangladesh was rewarded with the popular npower Test Match versus West Indies in 2007 whilst Old Trafford was awarded npower Test Matches versus the West Indies in 2007 and New Zealand in 2008.

The Major Match Group was established following recommendations by last year’s Morris/Pickup review into the awarding of International and domestic major matches.

The Major Match Group comprises Sir Bill Morris OJ, John Pickup, John Crowther, Karen Earl and Michael Vockins.