Captain suggests tour switch

Strauss keen to see one-dayers before Tests

Last updated: 5th February 2011

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England

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Andrew Strauss

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I've been involved in a lot of tours where the one-dayers at the end have been hard work.

Andrew Strauss
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Andrew Strauss has called for future tours to be restructured so that that one-day internationals are played before Tests.

England's long visit to Australia is finally coming to an end following a protracted seven-match ODI series, which concludes in Perth on Sunday.

With the series already long decided - Australia lead 5-1 - interest has wavered at the end of a tour that reached its high point in early January when England won the Ashes Down Under for the first time in 24 years.

Strauss admitted that playing a one-day series after the Test matches can be "hard work" and believes playing the shorter format first is a better way to ensure interest is retained for the entirety of a tour.

Better way

"Wherever possible I think that's a better way of doing it," he said. "I've been involved in a lot of tours where the one-dayers at the end have been hard work.

"Not just for us but the other teams as well. In some ways it's quite a good way to whet the appetite for the five-day matches coming up.

"That's something the administrators can look at and I think it makes for better cricket personally."

The limited-overs series was played before the Test matches in the memorable 2005 Ashes summer, when England were able to use the shorter format to inspire confidence for their historic success.

"I think that worked pretty well in 2005," said Strauss, who also called for a reduction in the number of 50-over games.

"I personally think that five one-dayers is enough, but there are a lot of other considerations to take into account.

"The administrators have to think about the future of the game and funding the various initiatives that they have. It's always a difficult one to answer.

"The crowds have been pretty healthy and apparently it will be a full house here tomorrow so that's a good thing."

Input

Team director Andy Flower admitted on Friday that he would like more say in scheduling ahead of tours after seeing his squad ravaged by injury.

Five England players have flown home from a tour that is now past its 100th day and while Strauss agreed with Flower's call for greater input in planning itineraries, he does not think it is a workable scenario.

"Ideally we would have an input, but the schedules are in place for four or five years into the future," he said.

"I think we've come to the realisation that we're not going to have a lot of say on it.

"That's the reality. All we can do is manage our resources as well as possible and that's where some sort of rotation system, resting players now and again is vitally important.

"How you manage it, if you do it effectively - it's an opportunity for you to get ahead of the opposition sides. Schedules are what they are and they will continue to be so."