England to open international cricket festival at Edgbaston

A festival of international cricket will kick off on Friday, 10 September 2004 when England take on Zimbabwe in the opening game of the ICC Champions Trophy 2004 in England at Edgbaston in the climax to this year's English season.

The ICC Champions Trophy is the only time outside the ICC Cricket World Cup that all Test playing teams gather for a cricket tournament in a showcase event for the talents of the world's leading one-day cricketers.

The two week cricket celebration will see all ten Test playing countries joined by World Cup surprise package Kenya and the winner of the next month's ICC Six Nations Challenge for Associate Members in a battle to win one of the most prestigious titles in world cricket.

The world's leading one-day team, Australia, is determined to improve on its previous performances with Cricket Australia Chief Executive, James Sutherland, saying that it is out to add the Champions Trophy to its trophy cabinet.

"The ICC Champions Trophy has become a prestigious and permanent part of international cricket and we are keen to improve on our previous performances in this event. We have never won the Championship and it and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy are two of the few global trophies we don't have in our trophy cabinet," said Mr Sutherland

Edgbaston will also host the eagerly anticipated India v Pakistan clash on 19 September and the semi final between the winners of England's group and Australia, New Zealand or the winner of the ICC Six Nations Challenge.

Edgbaston is one of three venues along with The Oval in south London and the Hampshire Rose Bowl in Southampton that will each host five matches in the tournament.

The Rose Bowl will stage England's other group game against Sri Lanka on 17 September. It is also the venue for the second semi-final.

The final will be at The Oval on Saturday 25 September as will the crucial group matches between Australia and New Zealand and South Africa and West Indies.

ICC Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, said that the tournament would provide an intriguing battle.

"Since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 last year we have seen a number of teams undergo a radical transformation. The England and Pakistan teams are barely recognizable from the sides that crashed out in the first round and this tournament will be the opportunity for the cricketing world to see just how far these teams have now come," said Mr Speed.

ECB Tournament Director David Clarke said,

"The ICC Champions Trophy presents a tremendous opportunity for cricket fans here to see the best in the world at close quarters. The intensity of the competition will guarantee plenty of top quality action as the best one day players in the world go head to head for this prestigious title in three of England's top venues".

The tournament format splits the 12 teams into four groups of three for a round-robin group stage with the winner of each group moving through to the semi-finals.

This format means that there can be no slip ups for any team as a single loss could see a teams hopes for the crown dashed.

There are reserve days for all matches. This means that there will be no Duckworth/Lewis recalculations on the first scheduled match day. If a match cannot be completed on the scheduled day, play will continue into the following day where recalculations can be made if required.

Tickets for the tournament go on sale to the general public on 1 April 2004.

Contact details for the venues are:

The Oval

The Surrey CCC ticket office will only be accepting postal applications. If you are not a member or have not previously purchased tickets via the Surrey CCC ticket office, please send an A4 sized stamped self-addressed envelope to the following address and the appropriate documents will be forwarded to you when available. Surrey County Cricket Club, The Brit Oval, Kennington, London, SE11 5SS.
Ticket Office enquiries - +44 (0) 207 582 6660
Web site - www.surreycricket.com

The Rose Bowl

To receive a ticket application form send a self-addressed envelope to:

The Membership Office, Hampshire Cricket, The Rose Bowl, Botley Road, West End, Southampton, Hampshire, SO30 3XH
Ticket Office enquiries - +44 (0) 870 243 0291
email enquiries - tickets@rosebowlplc.com
Website: www.hampshire.cricinfo.com

Edgbaston

Ticket Office enquiries - +44 (0) 121 446 5506
email enquiries - icctickets@thebears.co.uk
Website - www.thebears.co.uk

ICC media contacts: