ESSEX will give Australia their final test before next year's Ashes get under way.

The tourists will play a four-day game at the County Ground, Chelmsford, between Wednesday, July 1 and Saturday, July 4.

Australia will then travel to Cardiff for the first of the five Ashes Tests the following week.

Lord’s, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge and The Kia Oval will also stage Test matches as England bid to regain the famous Ashes urn and win a fourth successive home Ashes series following their previous triumphs in 2005, 2009 and 2013.