Former England captain Mike Atherton has snubbed the selection of Swalec Stadium in Wales as a venue for next summer’s Ashes series, saying it is too small.

He questioned the ECB’s decision allot Glamorgan the first Ashes Test between England and Australia next July.

“The Swalec Stadium has a capacity of 16,000, but look at Australia and you’ve got capacities of 50,000 60,000 – even 100,000,” said Atherton.

“To my mind the first Ashes Test should be – and could be – a game that you could sell out many times over the 16,000 capacity here.

“So I question the ECB’s policy of increasing the number of international grounds.

“You’d think it would be difficult if you’ve got 10 Test match grounds and you’re only playing seven Test matches a year,” Atherton was quoted as saying to icwales.icnetwork.co.uk.

“You have to ask whether a better policy would be to reduce the number of Test match grounds, but increase the capacity and availability for people to buy tickets to watch Ashes cricket,” he added.