The England and Wales Cricket Board today announced the International Match Programme for summer 2001 when Pakistan and Australia will be touring.

The international season will again be launched at Lord's in mid-May with the first of two Test Matches against Pakistan. England will also play a five Test Match 'Ashes' Series against Australia.

The 10-match NatWest Series will be played in the middle of June and will separate the two Test Match Series. Australia and Pakistan, the two finalists from the 1999 World Cup, will provide attractive but tough opposition for the England team.

There will be three day/night NatWest Series matches at Edgbaston, Old Trafford and Trent Bridge. One-Day International cricket will again be played in the North East at the Riverside Ground, Durham, while Wales and the South West will also host NatWest Series matches with Pakistan v Australia at Cardiff on Saturday 9 June being followed up by England v Australia at Bristol on Sunday 10 June. Bristol will have a capacity of 15,000 for this match.

The five Test Match 'Ashes' Series will provide a fitting finale to an exciting summer of international cricket. The final two Test Matches will be played back-to-back meaning that three of the Test Matches will be played in the prime holiday month of August.

International cricket schedule 2001

England v Pakistan Test Match series

1st Test   England v Pakistan   17-21 May      Lord's
2nd Test   England v Pakistan   31 May-4 June  Old Trafford

NatWest Series

England v Pakistan    Thu 7 June    Edgbaston (D/N)
Pakistan v Australia  Sat 9 June    Cardiff
England v Australia   Sun 10 June   Bristol
England v Pakistan    Tue 12 June   Lord's
England v Australia   Thu 14 June   Old Trafford (D/N)
Pakistan v Australia  Sat 16 June   Durham
England v Pakistan    Sun 17 June   Headingley
Pakistan v Australia  Tue 19 June   Trent Bridge (D/N)
England v Australia   Thu 21 June   The Foster's Oval
Final                 Sat 23 June   Lord's

England v Australia Test Match Series

1st Test England v Australia  5- 9 July   Edgbaston
2nd Test England v Australia 19-23 July   Lord's
3rd Test England v Australia  2- 6 August Trent Bridge
4th Test England v Australia 16-20 August Headingley
5th Test England v Australia 23-27 August The Foster's Oval