Here we take a look at the five venues selected to host test matches in this year’s Ashes series. We look into the head to head records at each ground and how England will fare at each.
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First Test – 1st August – 5th August
Edgbaston
Ashes head-to-head record
6 England Wins
5 Draws
3 Australia Wins
A good venue for England to open their Ashes series against Australia. They have lost just one of their last 14 matches at Edgbaston and it was here back in 2005 when England secured that nailbiting 2-run victory in what was dubbed as the greatest test match in Ashes history.
England don’t just have a good record here against Australia, they beat Pakistan here in 2016, West Indies in 2017 and India in 2018. This is a venue that produces great contests between the batters and the bowlers, just four of the last 22 tests here have ended in a draw.
They faced Australia here at the Cricket World Cup in the Semi Final stages, avenging their group loss at Lord’s. Chasing 223 all out set by Australia, excellent knocks by Jason Roy (85), Joe Root (49 not out) and Eoin Morgan (45 not out) saw the hosts romp to an 8 wicket victory in just 32.1 overs.
Second Test – 14th August – 18th August
Lord’s
Ashes head-to-head record
7 England Wins
14 Draws
15 Australia Wins
This is by far England’s worst venue in the Ashes, winning just seven of their 36 test matches. England’s win here in 2009 was amazingly their first at Lord’s against Australia since 1934.
It’s not just a problem venue against the Aussies either, England have been beaten at Lord’s by Pakistan in 2016 and 2018. England did step it up last summer when they hammered India by an innings and 159 runs thanks to excellent bowling from James Anderson (5-20 & 4-23) and an inspired batting performance from Chris Woakes (137 not out)
Although England were victorious at the recent Cricket World Cup, they did lose on this ground against Australia in the group stage. Chasing 285/7 set by Australia, England were bowled out for a dismal 221 after 44.4 overs. This is the problem venue for England and will pile the pressure on them to win the opener at Edgbaston.
Third Test – 22nd August – 26th August
Headingley
Ashes head-to-head record
7 England Wins
8 Draws
9 Australia Wins
This was the venue where in 1981 Ian Botham and Bob Willis pulled off the impossible. Australia declared on 401/9 and when England were bowled out for 174 Australia forced the follow on. The second innings was better, bowled out for 356 but that left Australia just 130 runs from their final innings to win. Botham starred with the ball in the first innings, taking 6 wickets for just 95 runs but the heroics belonged to Bob Willis. His 8 wickets for just 43 runs inspired England to bowl Australia out for just 111 and win the 3rd test.
Unfortunately England have not had much to celebrate since then, four of the last five Ashes tests held at Headingley have been won by Australia, with three of them won by an innings. England have struggled at this venue recently, losing to Sri Lanka in 2014, New Zealand in 2015 and West Indies in 2017.
Fourth Test – 4th September – 8th September
Old Trafford
Ashes head-to-head record
7 England Wins
15 Draws
7 Australia Wins
England were in trouble here in 2013 at 37-3 and chasing 332 to win however the rain saved them and enabled the hosts to escape with a draw. Since then England have performed well at Old Trafford beating India by an innings and 54 runs, Pakistan by 330 runs and South Africa by 177 runs.
Slow bowlers are preferred here, Moeen Ali took 5-69 in the second innings in their 2017 win against South Africa. Jim Laker took a record breaking 19-90 back in 1956 and Monty Panesar took 25 wickets in just three games here.
This will be a venue England need captain Joe Root at his best for, his last 5 innings here has seen knocks of 77, 254, 71 not out, 52 and 49. If he can bat his way to a big score then this should be a venue England can win at.
Click here for our full Ashes 2019 lowdown, the venues, dates and head to head records.
Fifth Test – 12th September – 16th September
The Oval
Ashes head-to-head record
16 England Wins
14 Draws
Seven Australia Wins
This is by far the most loved venue for England when it comes to the Ashes and the record speaks for itself. It’s renowned as a batters paradise. In England’s 2018 win over India there were four centuries scored in the second innings, showing that the surface holds up well and is scorable throughout the duration of the match.
England sealed their 2005 Ashes victory here thanks to an excellent 158 from Kevin Pietersen. Four years later Jonathon Trott stepped forward and produced a debut century to inspire England to a 5th set victory in 2009.
