England-South Africa faces Olympic clash

England's home Test series against South Africa in 2012, which could be another battle for the No. 1 ranking, will be in direct competition with the Olympic Games and played over just three matches. The ECB also confirmed that West Indies will visit for a full tour and Australia for five ODIs.

South Africa's visit in July and August has been squeezed because of the London Olympics, which will be staged for two weeks from late July and brings with it a series of restrictions about competing sporting events, and also by a visit from Australia for a one-day series. The first Test, at The Oval, will be played a week before the Games and the last, at Lord's, which is an Olympic venue, takes place shortly after it has finished. The Headingley Test has the task of battling head on with the Games.

In 2008, series between England and South Africa were given 'icon' status which, at the time, meant a five-Test series. The 2009-10 series in South Africa, however, had only four matches and was shared 1-1, with the hosts fighting back to win the final Test in Johannesburg.

At a time when the primacy of Test cricket is a major debate, having such a marquee series reduced to three matches doesn't bode well and suggests boards are paying no more than lip service to the principle that money doesn't rule. The proximity of the Olympics is out of the ECB's control but 13 ODIs, including another stand-alone five-match series against Australia, is unbalanced especially in a country where Test cricket is well attended.

After the Tests, South Africa will play five one-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals in England. They will act as preparation for the World Twenty20 that starts a week later in Sri Lanka with England as defending champions.

England's home season begins on May 17 with the first Test against West Indies, at Lord's, followed by further matches at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston. West Indies then play three ODIs and a single T20. Both West Indies and South Africa have two warm-up matches before their respective Test series begin, although South Africa's match against Somerset will be a two-day game followed by a three-day outing against Kent before the first Test.

England will also play Scotland in an ODI on August 12 as part of the arrangement whereby they play them and Ireland in alternate years. A venue for that match has still to be confirmed.

Cardiff, which was handed a 2015 Ashes Test as the major matches were allocated for a four-year period, will host the domestic Friends Life t20 finals day for the first time on August 25. The CB40 final takes place at Lord's again on September 15.

May 17-21 - 1st Test v West Indies, Lord's
May 25-29 - 2nd Test v West Indies, Trent Bridge
June 7-11 - 3rd Test v West Indies, Edgbaston
June 16 - 1st ODI v West Indies, Rose Bowl
June 19 - 2nd ODI v West Indies, The Oval
June 22 - 3rd ODI v West Indies, Headingley
June 24 - T20 v West Indies, Trent Bridge

June 29 - 1st ODI v Australia, Lord's
July 1 - 2nd ODI v Australia, The Oval
July 4 - 3rd ODI v Australia, Edgbaston
July 7 - 4th ODI v Australia, Durham
July 10th - 5th ODI v Australia, Old Trafford

July 19-23 - 1st Test v South Africa, The Oval
August 2-6 - 2nd Test v South Africa, Headingley
August 16-20 - 3rd Test v South Africa, Lord's
August 24 - 1st ODI v South Africa, Cardiff
August 28 - 2nd ODI v South Africa, Rose Bowl
August 31 - 3rd ODI v South Africa, The Oval
September 2 - 4th ODI v South Africa, Lord's
September 5 - 5th ODI v South Africa, Trent Bridge
September 8 - 1st T20 v South Africa, Durham
September 10 - 2nd T20 v South Africa, Old Trafford
September 12 - 3rd T20 v South Africa, Edgbaston