Five stats about the first ever Ashes Test to be held in Wales

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The first ever Ashes test to be held in Wales kicks off on Wednesday at Cardiff’s SWALEC Stadium but it’s hard to tell who - besides Glamorgan chairman Paul Russell - is happy about it. Andrew Strauss says his men will be walking into the unknown, Ricky Ponting thinks England have “got a bigger advantage there than anywhere else in the country” while Shane Warne thinks playing the first test there is “a disgrace”. Here are five stats to help you bet on this unpopular opener:

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1. Australia tend to kick off Test series spectacularly. They have won the opener in 29 of their last 34 series, drawing four and losing just one.

2. England also get off to spectacular starts in Test series, although more of than not they are spectacularly bad. Over the last four years, Andy Flower’s men have contested 15 series, winning the opener in just one.

3. Australia have won the opening Test in eight of the last ten Ashes series, whereas England have won it just once in that time.

4. On nine of the last 11 occasions that a team have won the first Test of the Ashes, they have gone on to win the series.

5. But England shouldn’t be too scared because they have only lost three of their last 20 home Tests while Australia have won none of their last four Tests in the UK.

Posted: July 6th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn |