LONDON, April 20: Cardiff's Sophia Gardens has been given the nod to host an Ashes Test in 2009 at the expense of one of English cricket's more familiar venues, Old Trafford in Manchester.

The shock decision by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), announced on Thursday, is conditional on an ambitious planned redevelopment of the Gardens being completed in time.

Provided that happens, the 2009 England-Australia matches will be played at The Oval, Sophia Gardens, Edgbaston, Headingley and Lord's after a two-Test series against Zimbabwe at Lord's and a venue still to be decided.

''We congratulate Cardiff on joining the list of Category A (Test match) venues and express our gratitude for the support which the Glamorgan club has received from the Welsh Assembly and Cardiff City Council for their development plans,'' said Bill Morris, chairman of the ECB-appointed Major Match Group.

To soften the blow, Old Trafford, which has been hosting Test matches since 1884, has been assured of hosting matches against the West Indies in 2007 and New Zealand in 2008.

Tests in 2007 will be at Chester-le-Street, Headingley, Lord's and Old Trafford against the West Indies and at The Oval, Lord's and Trent Bridge against India.

In 2008, England will host New Zealand at Lord's, Old Trafford and Trent Bridge and then South Africa at The Oval, Edgbaston, Headingley and Lord's.—Agencies