England to play extra game against Australia

Friday, February 5, 2010 -- England will play one extra first class game before they begin their defence of the Ashes later this year. According to the schedule released by the Australian cricket board, the English side will feature in three first class game including one against Australia A, before the first Test match begins.

It had earlier been reported that the English side had lost the previous Ashes played in Australia, 5-0, thanks to the lack of acclimatization to the conditions.

The five Test match series will start from the 25th of November, with a Test at Brisbane and will see games at Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney to round off the series.

The tour will also consist of another first class, warm up game between the second and the third Test match against Victoria. There will be two T20Is, and those will be followed by a seven match ODI series. Sydney will host two of these ODIs.

Post the Ashes, the two teams will then play in the World Cup in the sub-continent.