TEST cricket will return to Old Trafford in 2014 – but only if the planned £70m redevelopment is completed in time.
Lancashire have been named as hosts for the clash against India in five years time and a Test against Pakistan in 2015.
The ground, which controversially missed out on an Ashes Test this year to Cardiff, will also host an international Twenty20 against South Africa in 2012.
“It goes without saying that we are delighted with the matches awarded to Old Trafford and this now means that our long-term aim of bringing Test match cricket back to Old Trafford is very much on track," said Lancs chief executive Jim Cumbes.
“However, in order to ensure that these matches are played here, the message is simple - Lancashire must deliver the world-class venue, we and our development partners have promised.”
Lancashire will now bid for the three remaining Ashes Tests available for 2013 after Durham and The Oval were this morning awarded two of the five matches.
The £12m first phase of the Old Trafford redevelopment is well underway and will be completed by next spring, with the club set to apply for planning permission for the second phase in September.
However, the overall redevelopment, part of a huge regeneration of the area in conjunction with partners Tesco, Trafford Borough Council, ASK Developers and Stretford High School, is yet to be finalised although plans are at an advanced stage.
Lancashire are already hosting two Twenty20 internationals against Australia later this summer and a one-day international against the Aussies next year.
Meanwhile, Lancashire will be playing in a new Sunday League next season after the ECB announced there will be just three competitions in 2010.
The County Championship will continue in its current format, while the Twenty20 Cup will be rebranded, extended to two regional groups of nine and played mainly on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in June and July with a finals day later in the year.
But the 50-over Friends Provident Trophy will be scraped to be replaced with a new Sunday League, and although plans for the format haven’t been finalised, one option under consideration is a two innings a side 40-over competition with no overs limits for bowlers.
Counties will be able to register an unlimited amount of overseas players, however there will be restrictions in each competition although details have not yet been finalised.
Test cricket for Old Trafford
July 30, 2009
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The Oval never loses out does it???
Sick of greedy London, England needs splitting up so we can have our own "Northern England" cricket team!!
'A two innings a side 40-over competition'.
I guess that'll be a Twenty20 competiton with the overseas stars having two chances per game to justify their salaries. With the 50 over Friends Provident Trophy being shelved, the longest innings that spectators will be able to watch in a domestic one-day competition will be 20 overs.
Lords, The Oval, Headingley, Old Trafford, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge, The Rose Bowl, Cardiff and Durham - there are now nine grounds which will be used for test matches between 2010 and 2016 (and yes, Mark, The Oval gets a Test match in each of these years). All of these grounds will require increased funds for both their development and their ongoing upkeep. In the mean time, counties with a smaller catchment area for support or without the commercial advantages of being situated in a major city centre will continue to struggle. I wouldn't like to be the one to have to decide on a fair split of the test match income that is distributed to each of the counties.
Where would cricket be without the golden goose of Twenty20 and the money gods of Sky?
Lords will have a test, so that's two counties bidding from; Edgbaston, Old Trafford, Cardiff, Trent Bridge, Headingley and the Rose Bowl.
Please alter the colours of the dreadful new stands that are going up, abandon the stupid idea of turning the square around or the only tests we will see at OT are Pakistan v whoever.
Makes me laugh that the ECB are saying The Oval and the Riverside are the ony test venues sure of a test against the Aussies in 2013 its inconceivable to think Lords wont get one so O/T will probably miss out again.
As long as Cardiff is subsidised by the Welsh Assembly (as it was for this series), I don't see how OT can compete, since it is on a highest-bidder basis. At least it is even wetter than Manchester - 1200mm average annual rainfall instead of 800, which may eventually count against it.