ECB Request Test Pattern Change

The England and Wales Cricket Board have recently held talks with Cricket Australia to change the current four year cycle of Tests between England and Australia. The present pattern means that England always play a five Test tour of Australia before the World Cup, which also occurs every four years.

This creates a very long period if intense cricket for England which they feel disadvantages them for the World Cup. In 1979, 1987 and 1992 England played in the finals, and in these years the World Cup was not held directly after an Ashes series. In the three tournaments since then where the current touring pattern occurred, England has not reached semi finals. Australia has not had the same decline in fortunes as a result of this Test pattern, winning the last two World Cups.

The ECB are locked into the current touring pattern until 2011, and a change in the cycle would be difficult, especially as England don’t want any clashes with the London Olympics in 2012.