Ashes 2019 tour schedule analysis: Lord's, Headingley and Old Trafford give Australia real hope of series win

Australia have not won in England since 2001 but they will be encouraged by the location of the five Tests for next summer's series

Australia may have had a lot of drama on and off the field in recent months but they will aim to regroup to retain the Ashes next summer in England.  Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

The 2019 Ashes schedule has been announced, with Australia looking to win on English soil for the first time since 2001 next summer.

Here is a look at where the five matches will be played and Australia's history at each of the locations.

First Test, Edgbastion (August 1-5, 2019)

Not the happiest of hunting grounds for Australia, with only two successes coming there in their past nine visits to Birmingham.

The most recent of those was in 2001 when they won by an innings and 118 runs, with Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn and captain Steve Waugh all hitting hundreds.

Recent memories there are not so good for the Australians. They lost the classic 2005 Test when Michael Kasprowicz was dismissed with just two runs needed.

Their 2015 hopes began to sink with an eight-wicket loss, which was largely caused by being bowled out for 136 on the opening day.

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Second Test, Lord's (August 14-18)

Always a fixture on the Ashes schedule on English turf, and one the Australians are very happy to have on there.

England have had some success there recently, winning in 2009 and 2013, but the victory by 405 runs for Australia in 2015 was much more symbolic of how things have normally gone there.

The 2009 success was England's first at Lord's for 75 years and Australia have traditionally raised their game there.

They have won six of their last 10 games at Lord's, with their 2015 victory inspired by Steve Smith's double hundred.

Third Test, Headingley (August 22-26)

When you think of Ashes matches at Headingley in Leeds it is hard not to think of England's famous comeback in 1981 when, inspired by Ian Botham, they recovered from following on 227 runs behind and being 135-7 in their second innings to beat Australia by 18 runs.

Australia, however, have enjoyed their time in Yorkshire since then, winning four of their past five matches there.

The most recent of those was in 2009 when they won by an innings and 80 runs, with Mitchell Johnson taking 5-69 in the second innings.

England's lone success in the last 33 years was in 2001, and that was helped by a very generous declaration by Gilchrist as Mark Butcher's unbeaten 173 saw them chase down victory with a score of 315-4.

Fourth Test, Old Trafford (September 4-8)

Seeing Manchester on the schedule will be unlikely to upset Australia, given they have not lost there in their past six visits stretching back to 1985.

Arguably one of Australia's finest moments came there in 1993 with Shane Warne's 'ball of the century' to dismiss Mike Gatting.

Even when they struggled in 2005 on their way to a series defeat they avoided defeat, as Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath batted out the final overs to earn a draw.

The last time the sides met there in 2013 was a draw, with the rain coming to England's aid after they had fallen 152 runs behind in the first innings.

The pitch at Old Trafford is usually one of the most spin friendly in England and this will please Nathan Lyon no end.

Fifth Test, The Oval (September 12-16)

Even during their dominant era in the 1990s and early 2000s, success at The Oval was a rarity for Australia.

They won there in 2015, by an innings and 46 runs, one of only two successes for them on their past 12 trips to South London.

The venue has far more happier memories for England, who won there in 2009 to win the Ashes and a draw in 2005 proved enough to give them a series triumph for the first time in 18 years.

Verdict

While it is unlikely that either side will look too heavily on exact past history, Australia's strong records at Lord's, Headingley and Old Trafford will certainly give the 2019 generation hope that they have the best chance yet of becoming the first side since Steve Waugh's 2001 side to leave England still holding on to the urn.

The fact Trent Bridge is not on the schedule, a venue Australia have lost at on their last three visits, most notably being bowled out for only 60 in 2015, will have pleased them greatly.

The only concern will be the fact that two of the matches, at Old Trafford and at The Oval, will be played in September when English summertime is drawing to a close.

The last Ashes match to be played in September, at The Oval in 2005, was hit by rain and bad light and that played a part in England being able to play out the draw that won them the series.