IPL won't be allowed to dictate English Test season, warns ECB

By CHRIS FOY

England have warned India's Champions League powerbrokers that they will not go the same way as Australia and South Africa, by allowing Test cricket to be compromised in the rush for Twenty20 riches.

The inaugural eight-team tournament, featuring Twenty20 Cup champions Middlesex, has been shifted from October to early December in order to avoid a clash with the end of the one-day Champions Trophy.

But despite the ECB repeating its plea for the 'primacy' of Test cricket to be protected at all costs, it is already having to make way for the bite-size game.

England first, IPL second: Andrew Strauss

Australia and South Africa, the No 1 and No 2 teams in the Test world championship table, go head-to-head over three matches in December and January, in a series which will go some way to settling global bragging rights.

But with the Champions League now taking place from December 3-10, it was confirmed yesterday that this clash of the titans will be condensed into three weeks, in order to accommodate the new event in India.

Instead of playing in Perth from December 12-16, the Proteas and their rivals will now lock horns for the first time at the WACA on December 17. Rest periods will be remarkably brief until the series concludes in Sydney in early January.

Mickey Arthur, the South Africa coach, admitted yesterday: 'It is not ideal but we have found a compromise in the best interests of South Africa cricket. It is a financial decision and must be seen as such.'

The 10-year agreement will go a long way to clearing both countries' mounting debts.
England are on tour in India at the time and the Champions League will be crammed in between the one-day series and the Tests.

The ECB has vowed to reject any attempts by the home board to delay the start of the first Test in Ahmedabad, on December 11, but the fixture congestion could cause problems.

Should IPL runners-up Chennai Superkings reach the final, their financial backers would demand to see captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni leading the side. But as India's iconic wicketkeeper-batsman, he should be on duty in Ahmedabad the following morning.

The Champions League will see Middlesex vying with Victoria and Western Australia (Australia), Dolphins and Titans (South Africa), Rajasthan and Chennai, and Sialkot of Pakistan, for a total prize fund of $6million.

Vinny Codrington, the county's chief executive, admitted yesterday that they may have to hire a batsman or two if Andrew Strauss and Owais Shah are busy with England.

'I imagine Strauss wouldn't be released if his central contract is renewed,' he said. 'But even if Owais is selected for the tour, I'm hopeful that the ECB would be prepared to release him, if he's not required for the first Test.

'I've already had preliminary discussions with (ECB chairman) Giles Clarke, but it's difficult to plan because the England tour squads haven't been announced yet. It will be a matter for us to discuss with the management nearer the time.

'If Straussy and Owais are both unavailable, we may have to look at strengthening the squad from outside. I think the ECB would be receptive to us bringing in players on loan.'