(Reuters) - Factbox on the first Ashes test between England and Australia in Cardiff starting on July 8.

VENUE

Cardiff will stage its first test after previously hosting seven one-day internationals. The two matches involving England were rained off. Capacity: 16,000.

HEAD TO HEAD

The teams have played 64 Ashes series. Australia have won 31, England 28 and five have been drawn. Overall in 316 tests, Australia have won 131, England 97 and 88 have been drawn.

CAPTAINS

Australia - Ricky Ponting, 34. Right-hand batsman; 131 tests, 10,960 runs at 56.20. A quick-footed free-scoring batsman in the best Australian tradition and a relentless captain who has been rebuilding his side after the loss of several great players.

England - Andrew Strauss, 32. Left-hand opening batsman; 62 tests, 4,792 runs at 43.96. After a brief period in the wilderness, Strauss returned to the team last year. Subsequently he has been England's most prolific batsman and the logical choice as captain after Kevin Pietersen's sudden resignation.

KEY PLAYERS

Australia - Mitchell Johnson, 27. Intimidatingly quick and increasingly hostile, Johnson has become the complete package as a left-arm fast bowler by adding a late inswinger to his repertoire. He may also be the world's next great all-rounder after averaging 85 in South Africa this year, including a first test hundred.

England - Kevin Pietersen, 28. The batsman Australia fear the most, with good reason after 963 runs at 53.50 in 10 tests against the old enemy. With his fearlessness and range of strokes, his importance to the England side in any form of cricket cannot be exaggerated.

WEATHER FORECAST: Unsettled with showers.

ODDS: England 2/1, Australia 7/4, draw 6/4.

SQUADS:

Australia - Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Graham Manou, Andrew McDonald, Marcus North, Peter Siddle.

England - Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Graham Onions, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Graeme Swann.

Umpires: Billy Doctrove (West Indies) and Aleem Dar (Pakistan)

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (New Zealand)

Match starts 11 a.m.

(Compiled by John Mehaffey; Editing by Ed Osmond)