Headingley to play host to New Zealand Test match and Australia one-day contest in 2013

Headingley Carnegie will stage the second of two Test matches against New Zealand from May 24-28 and the first of five one-day internationals against Australia on September 6.

The club will shortly announce ticket prices and dates of sale.

It is another packed schedule for England, who, in addition to the New Zealand Tests and Australia one-day internationals, will contest a five-match Ashes series from July 10-August 25.

The Ashes Tests will be played at Trent Bridge, Lord’s, Old Trafford, Chester-le-Street and The Oval.

The world’s leading eight teams will also contest the Champions’ Trophy in England from June 6-23.

The Oval, Cardiff and Edgbaston are the home grounds for that tournament but, as ever, the focus will be on the arrival of Australia.

They will play two four-day warm-ups, against Somerset and Worcestershire, before the first Test in Nottingham on July 10.

The second Test, at Lord’s, follows immediately on July 18 before Australia face Sussex in another tour match at Hove.

The next two Tests are also back to back, with Old Trafford the venue for the third match, as it was in the memorable 2005 series, and Durham’s first taste of Ashes cricket coming in the penultimate match of the series, starting on August 9.

The tourists then have a two-day fixture at Northampton before the sides meet again at The Oval, where England have clinched the urn for the last two home series.

Having announced his shock retirement from limited-overs cricket, Kevin Pietersen’s international commitments will end on August 25, while his colleagues contest two Twenty20s and five one-day matches against the old enemy as well as a stand-alone trip to Malahide to face Ireland.

The final match on the calendar, a 50-over clash with Australia, takes place at Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl on September 16 – four days later than its 2012 equivalent. ECB chief executive David Collier said: “The prospect of England defending the Ashes on home soil, the world’s top eight teams competing in the ICC Champions Trophy, and a full programme of 50-Over and T20 International cricket will provide rich pickings for cricket fans next summer.

“Last season’s international programme attracted a record aggregate attendance of more than 850,000 spectators and we would urge all fans to purchase their international tickets early for 2013 to avoid missing out on what promises to be a memorable summer.”

Scotland will play Australia in a one-day international on September 3, 2013.