Ashes 2015: England and Australia open Test series in Cardiff

Australia celebrate winning the Ashes

England will begin their attempt to regain the Ashes from Australia in Cardiff in July 2015.

The opening game of the five-match Test series begins on 8 July, with the second Test at Lord's from 16 July.

Birmingham's Edgbaston ground and Trent Bridge in Nottingham will also stage matches, with The Kia Oval hosting the finale from 20 August.

England are bidding to win a fourth successive home series, having lost the last one 5-0 in Australia in 2014.

After the Ashes, England and Australia play a Twenty20 match in Cardiff before the two sides meet in five one-day games at Ageas Bowl, Lord's, Old Trafford and Headingley.

England also play New Zealand in 2015.

The Black Caps begin their tour in May with matches against Somerset and Worcestershire before the first Test at Lord's on 21 May.

Headingley will stage the second Test of the two-match series before the focus shifts to the one-day format.

Edgbaston, The Oval, Ageas Bowl, Trent Bridge and Chester-le-Street are all due to stage ODIs, with Old Trafford hosting a Twenty20 match.

SCHEDULE

New Zealand tour itinerary

8-11 May v Somerset (Taunton)

14-17 May v Worcestershire (New Road)

21-25 May v England (First Test, Lord's)

29 May-2 June v England (Second Test, Headingley)

6 June v Leicestershire (Grace Road)

9 June v England (First one-day international, Edgbaston)

12 June v England (Second ODI, The Oval)

14 June v England (Third ODI, Southampton)

17 June v England (Fourth ODI, Trent Bridge)

20 June v England (Fifth ODI, Chester-le-Street)

23 June v England (T20, Old Trafford)

Australia tour itinerary

25-28 June v Kent (Canterbury)

1-4 July v Essex (Chelmsford)

8-12 July v England (First Test, Cardiff)

16-20 July v England (Second Test, Lord's)

23-25 July v Derbyshire (County Ground, Derby)

29 July-2 August v England (Third Test, Edgbaston)

6- 10 August v England (Fourth Test, Trent Bridge)

14-16 August v Northants (Northampton)

20-24 August v England (Fifth Test, The Oval)

27 August v Ireland (One-day international, Venue tbc)

31 August v England (Twenty20, Cardiff)

3 September v England (First one-day international, Southampton)

5 September v England (Second ODI, Lord's)

8 September v England (Third ODI (D/N), Old Trafford)

11 September v England (Fourth ODI, Headingley)

13 September v England (Fifth ODI, Old Trafford)