Old Trafford and Lord’s awarded Bangladesh Tests

The England and Wales Cricket Board yesterday adopted the recommendations of the Independent Major Match Group to award the two npower Test matches against Bangladesh to Old Trafford, Manchester and Lord’s next summer.

It will be Old Trafford’s first Test match since 2008 after it was decided to switch the game from Headingley Carnegie, who will now, along with Lord’s, host the neutral Test matches between Pakistan and Australia.

The Pakistan v Australia International Twenty20s will both be at Edgbaston while Cardiff will host the two International Twenty20 matches between England and Pakistan.

Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, said: ’ I thank Lord Morris of Handsworth and his MMG as well as Gordon Hollins, ECB Head of Venue Partnerships, for the sensible approach they have made to ensure that the largest number of members of the Pakistani ethnic community across Britain can see the neutral Test matches between Pakistan and Australia as well as ensuring a good geographical spread of the matches.’

In 2011 the International Twenty20 match against India will be at Old Trafford and the International Twenty20 against Sri Lanka will be at Bristol.

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