Glamorgan thrilled with Ashes Test

Glamorgan have welcomed the decision by the ECB to award them the third nPower Ashes Test match against Australia in 2009.

Sophia Gardens will now join an elite group of county grounds who will have the privilege of hosting full England test matches in the future.

Cardiff will host a full England international for the first time in 2006 with the opening NatWest Series match with Pakistan scheduled for August 30.

Glamorgan Chairman Paul Russell said: “This is a great day not only for Welsh cricket but for Wales.”

Russell paid tribute to the hard work of all the Glamorgan staff and the Test Match Project Team who had worked behind the scenes in preparing the successful bid to the Major Match Group, which made the recommendation to the ECB.

Russell added: “This result could not have been achieved without the fantastic support Glamorgan has received from so many organisations.

“When the Major Match Group's inspection team visited Glamorgan at the end of March they were literally bowled over by the sheer enthusiasm of so many people to bring test cricket to Wales.

“Without this 'Team Wales' approach bringing together the Assembly, the City Council, the Cardiff Business community and the Tourist industry we would not have been successful.

“We were also fortunate to be able to build on the world wide international reputation gained by Cardiff in hosting major world class sporting events at the Millennium Stadium.

“The new redeveloped Sophia Gardens will allow Cardiff to become one of the few major cities in the world to host world class events in the world's three major sports cricket, football and rugby.”

Glamorgan captain Robert Croft said: “I know that this news will provide cricket in Wales and Glamorgan in particular with a massive boost.

“I can still remember the day I made my debut as a full England test cricketer. I know that throughout Wales this will inspire young cricketers to join Simon Jones and become the test cricketers of the future.

“I am delighted for all cricket fans in Wales and on their behalf I pay tribute to all of those who have worked so hard to make what was once a dream for so many of us a reality.”

Glamorgan and England's Simon Jones added: “As a Welshman I can't wait for 2009 and to be a part of the full England team meeting our oldest rivals Australia in an Ashes test in Cardiff.

“Last year's Ashes series was phenomenally successful and the idea of Sophia Gardens staging such a game in three years' time is just fantastic.”

Glamorgan's new overseas signing and potential Australian test star Mark Cosgrove said: “My ambition has always been to eventually play for Australia. I was told in Australia that I was joining a county team with ambitious plans for the future and today's (Thursday) news really confirms this.

“I'm sure that the experience that I will gain with Glamorgan this summer will increase my chances of returning in 2009 as a member of the full Australian team.

“I know from the short time that I have spent in Wales the welcome that awaits the Australian team when it arrives in Cardiff.

“Sophia Gardens is one of the finest locations I've seen for playing cricket and I'm sure that it will soon become as famous as the Adelaide Oval as a test ground.”