Pears to host Australia next summer

Buy photos » New Road. Picture by Nigel Slater

WORCESTERSHIRE will tackle Australia in a four-day match during next year's Ashes series in England, it has been revealed.

The Pears will welcome the tourists for the game from July 2 to 5 in the last game before England and Australia begin the first of five Ashes test matches on July 10 at Trent Bridge.

The match will be the second time the Australians have visited New Road in recent years as the tourists took on an England A (now England Lions) side during the last home Ashes series in 2009.

Worcestershire County Cricket Club Chief Executive, David Leatherdale, said: "We are very happy to be given the honour of hosting the Australian national side next summer.

"We hope that the promise of this game will give our players the impetus and drive for a successful 2012 and 2013 seasons," he added.

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