The Ashes, 2006-07

Australia want six Ashes Tests

Cricinfo staff & AFP

January 15, 2007

The Ashes could be contested at Ricky Ponting's home ground, Hobart © Getty Images

The Ashes have only just been regained by Australia, but already the board is planning the next home series over six games in 2010-11. Cricket Australia wants another match added at Hobart in Tasmania, which is the only major ground in the country that does not host an England Test.

A host of attendance records were broken during the recent series despite Australia winning 5-0. Now Cricket Australia wants to go even further. "Cricket Australia is keen in principal to have six Tests the next time we have an Ashes series," Peter Young, the CA spokesman, said. "If we do have six it gives us the ability to schedule a Test in Hobart. We want to be able to take Test cricket to as many people in Australia as possible."

Although Young said the busy international schedule made extending the series difficult, he was hopeful of an agreement with the ECB. "The ECB are aware of our ambition," he said, "but discussions are a long way off being finalised."

The suggestion was met with opposition by Duncan Fletcher, England's coach, who warned that his players were already struggling to cope with a particularly heavy workload. Fletcher stressed that he hadn't discussed the matter with the ECB, which is preparing to review their side's dismal Ashes showing, but said his players needed breaks in their schedule.

"To introduce more cricket is just going to complicate the issue because we play these long Test [series] - five against Australia, four against the West Indies, five against South Africa - whereas most sides are playing against each other in three Tests, so they can have a break," he said. "We struggle to get these breaks."

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