July 09  
NatWest Series stays the same

LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board has no plans to revise the scheduling of the NatWest Series despite complaints from Sri Lanka at having to play games at different venues just 24 hours apart. 

"Changing the itinerary is not something we would consider," ECB media relations manager Andrew Walpole said. 

"The schedule for the NatWest Series has been in place for three years and we see no need make any adjustments. 

We understand the logistical difficulties teams face in playing matches one day apart and we are always mindful to take into account the constraints facing them." 

Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore openly criticised the one-day triangular tournament after his side were forced to play in Birmingham and Manchester last weekend. 

To exacerbate matters, the Sri Lanka team bus encountered traffic problems on the M6 on Saturday night and did not arrive at their team hotel until 9.30pm. 

"Back-to-backs are always hard all over the world, we are not very keen on this sort of schedule, particularly when one team doesn't have a back-to-back," said Whatmore. 

His comments came after Sri Lanka had ironically recorded their first win of the tournament, against England 24 hours after losing to India. 

"All over the world we are trying to change that sort of schedule but the players did themselves proud," he added. 

England - as is common practice for the host nation - are afforded a break of at least two days in between their matches. 

Walpole said home teams are given preferential treatment in other cricketing nations and admitted this was a consideration when the fixture list for the NatWest Series was drawn up. 

"England face the same problems when they travel abroad," he said. "They are committed to adhere to the schedule that is put in place wherever they go and invariably they play a number of games on consecutive days. It is normal for Boards to operate in this manner." 

Whatmore was reluctant to be drawn further into the debate on Monday. 

"This is a Board-to-Board issue that needs to be addressed and all I will say is that it is very unfair on the players and way too demanding to have to play back-to-backs, even if they are at the same ground," he commented. 

India, who like Sri Lanka were scheduled to play matches on consecutive days, are assured of a place in the NatWest Series final. 

However, with England also already in the final, there will be no repeat of the outcome of the VB one-day series played in the most recent Australian summer. 

The two visiting teams - South Africa and New Zealand, both of whom played back-to-back matches, but always in the same city - qualified for the final while World Cup holders Australia missed out.