why are the Ashes being held in Wales?

Question

England play Australia for the Ashes.  England are at home.  No, they are not.  Although we have Lords and The Oval, they are playing in another country.
       If it had not been for pressure, England's players would have stood to attention for Land of My Fathers, which is nobody's national anthem.  Wales - like England, Scotland & Ireland don't have a National Anthem other than God Save the Queen, although the other countries recognize songs as anthems.
      You don't suppose the fact that the Welsh Assembly made a £3m 
   grant to the England & Wales Cricket Board had the slightest influence in where the match would be played, and what songs would be sung?  Perhaps I am being a little cynical.

    (I am English.  I love the Welsh.  I hate cricket.  I love fair play)

Rollo · Accepted Answer

The answer is contained in the question, it's the "England & Wales Cricket Board".

Glamorgan County Cricket Club has been playing cricket since 1888. For Wales to get their first Test Match, has been a very long time in coming. 

Up until about the 1930s when a wave of neo-nationalism swept across the UK, it was not uncommon for the name England to stand for the whole. When David Lloyd George signed the Treaty of Versailles, he did so in the name of England which was automatically taken to mean the whole.

I think your cynicism is a little misplaced, for as an Englishman myself, I see no cause for concern for this most genteel of games being played on the greens of our esteemed neighbour.

neilithic · Answer

If you're English then you should know that the English cricket team consists of England AND Wales.  Ireland and Scotland have their own teams but Wales are part of the English cricket team so therefore England are playing at home at either England or Wales. And it is only one test there, the other 4 are in England.

sonj · Answer

The English thought it would be good to play on a pitch that is known for its swing since we were bringing mostly fast bowlers.
We will win anyhow. 
It doesn't matter where we play!
Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

MBTM™ · Answer

on cardiff wicket , england want to sieze the initiative as Australia will be prone to swann and panesar , expect a blame of doctored pitch if aus loses by cynical and restless aussie media, CA , aussie team and ex aussie cricketers or may be a blame of Wales being IInd world, i mean little less than Ist world~

if Eng touches 375 , Aus is in trouble~

this song can be played
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkGOiS75Lwk

RIP, Jacko we miss you ~

Anonymous · Answer

MBTM 
HAVE A LOOK AT THE PITCH WHERE THE BOWLER COMES IN ON THE WHITE LINE ITS STRIPPED BARE ALREADY AND IT WASNT EVEN THE END OF THE 1ST DAYS PLAY. EVEN THE POMMY COMMENTATORS SAID HOW CRAP IT WAS.

BUT THEN AGAIN I REALLY WOULDNT EXPECT A SMART ANSWER FROM U ANYWAY.

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why are the Ashes being held in Wales?

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