England reveal 2008 home schedule

England have a good home record against the Kiwis and Proteas

England will face New Zealand in three Tests followed by a four-Test series against South Africa in 2008.

The Tests against the Kiwis will take place at Lord's, Old Trafford and Trent Bridge, followed by a Twenty20 game and five one-day international matches.

Lord's, Headingley, Edgbaston and The Oval will host the Proteas Tests, with Edgbaston starting on a Wednesday, before a similar one-day programme.

Bristol and Cardiff will host ODIs but there is no game for the Rose Bowl.

John Carr, director of England Cricket, said: "One of the scheduling parameters we had to deal with was that the 2008 season has to end in early September to enable both England and South Africa the opportunity to travel to the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

"The 2008 season will include a Wednesday start as well as four Thursday starts and two Friday starts for npower Test matches. In a busy summer we feel that this sequence gives the players the maximum opportunity for rest and recuperation."

The third Test against South Africa at Edgbaston will start on Wednesday, 30 July.

England have a good home record in Tests against South Africa (only nine defeats in 57 games) and New Zealand (four losses in 47 matches).

They beat the Kiwis 3-0 the last time Stephen Fleming's men visited in 2004 but had to twice come from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw against the Proteas in 2003.

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New Zealand in England in 2008
15-19 May 1st Test, Lord's
23-27 May 2nd Test, Old Trafford
5-9 June 3rd Test, Trent Bridge
13 June Twenty20 International, Old Trafford
15 June 1st ODI, Riverside
18 June 2nd ODI, Edgbaston
21 June 3rd ODI, Bristol
25 June 4th ODI, The Oval
28 June 5th ODI, Lord's

South Africa in England in 2008
10-14 July 1st Test, Lord's
18-22 July 2nd Test, Headingley
30 July-3 August 3rd Test, Edgbaston
7-11 August 4th Test, The Oval
20 August Twenty20 International, Riverside
22 August 1st ODI, Headingley (d/n)
26 August 2nd ODI, Trent Bridge (d/n)
29 August 3rd ODI, The Oval
31 August 4th ODI, Lord's
3 September 5th ODI, Cardiff (d/n)