The Ashes Test was a great success and Wales was applauded by pundits, fans and the media for hosting such a great event.
The SWALEC stadium is now firmly on the fixture list for hosting future Test matches which will bring in valuable revenue for the economy and increase our profile for hosting major events.
Here's what some of them said:
It is a pleasure for all of us, the Cabinet, to be here to congratulate Wales first of all, to congratulate Cardiff, to congratulate the Glamorgan Cricket Club for hosting the first Ashes Test, the first time an Ashes Test had been held here in Wales.
You did it so magnificently that I believe tourists from around the world will flock to Cardiff and to Wales as a result of that. To all those who were responsible for all of that, the congratulations of all the Cabinet. Thank you all very much.
Gordon Brown, Prime Minister
Opening day is triumph for Wales
The Daily telegraph
Cardiff’s charm wins over specatators
The Times
Cardiff’s dream Test debut gives England a home from home
The Guardian
Cardiff rose magnificently to the occasion, from the passionate opening ceremony to the friendliness of everyone involved in staging this Test.
Daily Mail
Humorous ‘G’Dai’ signs are a big hit with visitors
South Wales Echo
Cardiff has specifically set out to make its cricketing pilgrims feel welcome, and spared nothing in the effort.
Hence, three hours before play yesterday, buses were ferrying in spectators from the park-and-ride sites and a fleet of golf buggies was hoovering up passengers close to the stadium.
No one had to walk unless you fancied that charmed stroll along the banks of the Taff. Even there you were met by women in green T-shirts ready with direction, and distracted by such witty placards as ‘Old South Wales welcome New South Wales’.
The Times
Cardiff must have been a disappointment on the pitch for England, but it was a triumph off it for Wales.
The venue received a lot of criticism for staging the first Test of an Ashes series, but the people of Wales and Glamorgan Cricket Club in particular made this a great occasion.
From the signs which greeted fans walking from Cardiff central station to the Swalec Stadium (G'Dai, Old South Wales welcomes New South Wales), to the friendly staff at the ground and the Welsh cricket fans who turned out in their droves to cheer on England (& Wales, they would remind us all).
Thank you.
English fan quoted on Metro website
Glamorgan Cricket awarded further high profile international matches
The England and Wales Cricket Board have confirmed that the following international matches will be played at the SWALEC Stadium during the period 2012 – 2016:
2010
Thursday 24th June 2010 – England V Australia, NatWest One Day International
Sunday 5th September 2010 – England V Pakistan, International Twenty20
Tuesday 7th September 2010 – England V Pakistan, International Twenty20
2012 - England v West Indies One-Day International
England v South Africa One-Day International
2013 - England v Australia One-Day International
2014 - England v Sri Lanka Test Match
2015 - England v India One-Day International
England v New Zealand One-Day International
2016 - England v Australia T20 International
Glamorgan Cricket is delighted with the matches that they have been awarded and further enhances the credentials of the SWALEC Stadium being a high profile international cricket venue.
In addition to the above fixtures, Glamorgan Cricket along with the other Test Match Grounds, will have the opportunity to bid for some of the remaining 50 unallocated matches to be played during 2012 – 2016. These include 3 Ashes Test matches in 2013 and 3 in 2016.
The additional bids are likely to be submitted towards the end of 2009.
Glamorgan Cricket’s Chairman Paul Russell said;
We are delighted with our allocation of games between 2012 and 2016. We were determined to bring regular International fixtures to the SWALEC Stadium and we now have confirmed 10 international matches over the next 7 years here in Wales.