HAMPSHIRE chairman Rod Bransgrove insists he is more determined than ever to bring the Ashes to the Ageas Bowl – despite being denied a 2019 Test.

Three years after its bid to host 2013 and 2015 Ashes Tests was rejected, the Ageas Bowl has lost out again.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has chosen Edgbaston and Old Trafford as hosts of the biggest match in cricket along with Lord's, Headingley and the Oval.

Hopes were high that Hampshire’s bespoke, state-of-the-art ground in West End would follow the likes of Cardiff’s Swalec Stadium and Durham’s Riverside in becoming the latest Ashes debutant.

With Cardiff looking forward to its second Ashes Test next summer, having staged its first in 2009, and Durham becoming the country’s eighth Test venue 16 months ago, it seemed that the Ageas Bowl was due its turn.

Especially after the successful staging of the Ageas Bowl’s second Test, against India in July, when the ground was lauded by the likes of Ian Bell and England captain Alastair Cook.

But Hampshire have the considerable consolation prize of another Test against India in 2018 and five 2019 World Cup group matches, as well as other one-day internationals against West Indies (2017) and Pakistan (2019) and a Twenty20 international against South Africa (2017).

Bransgrove was magnanimous in defeat after the decision to host every 2019 Ashes match at established Test venues for the first time since 2005.

“I would like to congratulate the winners in this process and wish them the very best with their allocation of matches,” he said.

“Although we are disappointed that we remain the only Category A ground never to have hosted an Ashes Test, the Ageas Bowl has nevertheless secured a substantial package of fixtures containing 13 days of international cricket over the three-year period, with the highlight being an India Test Match in 2018.

“If we were told we’d be getting that not so long ago we’d have been delighted so we have to keep this in perspective.

“It’s difficult to know how we can do better but there are winners and losers in all competitions and we’re used to disappointments.”

Bransgrove admits he may have stepped down as executive chairman had The Ageas Bowl been awarded a 2019 Ashes Test. “There wouldn’t have been a lot else for me to achieve, but my fellow executives will now be seeing more of me – unfortunately for them!” he said.

Tickets are already on sale for next summer’s one-day internationals against Australia and New Zealand, which will be the first major matches played at a completed Ageas Bowl, with the opening of the Hilton hotel scheduled for May.

“We have to move on and look forward to a very good palette of international cricket,” continued Brsansgrove. “We’ll focus on staging the major matches we have got to the very best of our ability.

“We’ll continue to invest in the Ageas Bowl and strive to make it one of the very best grounds in world cricket, and we look forward to hosting these exciting fixtures and providing an outstanding experience for all our customers.”

Counties will be invited to tender for major matches in 2020-23 in the new year, with a 2023 Ashes Test the big prize in that process.

“I’ll be 73 then but hopefully we’ll get an Ashes Test next time and I’ll still be around to see it!” chuckled Bransgrove.

The ECB has chosen the five grounds with the biggest capacities, all of which have risen to the challenge of improving standards following the emergence of new competition.

Headingley and The Oval already had long-term staging agreements and an Ashes series is incomplete without a Lord’s Test, so there were effectively only two available when the Major Match Group made its decision.

The other ground to miss out yesterday was Trent Bridge, as well as Cardiff and Durham, which have no Tests at all from 2017-19.

Hampshire were not helped by the poor scheduling of its India Test in July, with the first Sunday start in English cricket history the major factor in poor ticket sales on days two and three.

ECB chairman Giles Clarke, said: “A significant amount of work was carried out with the ECB executive and the first-class counties to ensure that these awards are made on a new financial basis which involves the share of risk between the ECB and the grounds. It means that grounds are incentivised to sell out while providing the best possible spectator experience.”