2005-06 program plan

West Indies series cut to three Tests

Cricinfo staff

January 16, 2005

Gone: Five-Test series against West Indies have been demolished like Ramnaresh Sarwan in 2000-01 © AFP

Cricket Australia wants to host two three-Test series against West Indies and South Africa and shoehorn a Twenty20 competition into next summer's program. James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, said CA planned to downgrade the traditional five-Test series against West Indies to three and give Hobart its first Test since 2000-01.

"All we can really say at this stage is we are working towards a six-Test summer next season, but in terms of how that falls and where the matches fall, it's way too early to be confirming that," he said. Sutherland said scheduling made it too difficult to stage a five-Test series against West Indies. The last time West Indies visited for a Test tour they lost 5-0.

Sutherland said CA would try to find a "window" to host a domestic Twenty20 tournament. "When that might be is debatable and there are differing views around the country on when the best time of the year might be," he said. "It's something we've got to explore over the next couple of months."

The extra matches add to the demands of players already worried about the expanding fixture list. As the world's top Test team, Australia will figure in a one-off match against the Rest of the World in October, and the series also includes three one-day matches.

Australia will then face New Zealand in the best-of-three Chappell-Hadlee Series before the home Tests. Sri Lanka are expected to join Australia and South Africa in next summer's VB Series because West Indies are playing in the current competition.

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