England mull managing backroom workloads

England face their longest and busiest home season next year, followed by an Ashes tour to Australia, and managing the workload of players and coaching staff will be at the forefront of the team's planning.

Trevor Bayliss, the England head coach, confirmed there have been discussions about him taking a break at some stage over the next six months while other members of the backroom staff will also be given the opportunity to rest. Australia's head coach, Darren Lehmann, missed the recent tri-series in the West Indies and in 2014 Bayliss himself stood in for Lehmann during a T20 series against South Africa.

"We have spoken about in the next six months different staff members having a series off here and there, including myself," Bayliss said. "That hasn't been finalised just yet but with the staff as well it's day-in, day-out, a 24-hour job, it may not seem like it at times but you are always thinking about the cricket. There's always someone on the phone to you. It's important that the staff get a decent place as well."

Players are often reluctant to concede their place but particularly those who play all three formats face a gruelling schedule. After Pakistan's tour, England are due to visit Bangladesh - although that tour is now in doubt after the terrorist attacks in Dhaka - and then there are five Tests in India before Christmas.

They return to India in January for three ODIs and three T20Is, then have a short tour of the West Indies from late February for three more ODIs - that trip could be a potential opportunity for Bayliss' break. After West Indies there is a brief pause before England's home season starts on its earliest-ever date of May 5 with ODIs against Ireland.

South Africa then arrive - their tour split by the Champions Trophy - before a full visit by West Indies concludes the 2017 summer which ends on September 29. Ashes tours normally begin around mid-to-late October.

England have rested Joe Root, Alex Hales and Moeen Ali - three of the players to appear in the three formats - for the one-off T20I against Sri Lanka at the Ageas Bowl. When fit Ben Stokes is another who would feature in Tests, ODIs and T20Is. Jonny Bairstow and James Vince are now also part of the squad in all formats.

Paul Farbrace, the assistant coach, has previously spoken about the depth England now have available without weakening the side - particularly in reference to the one-day side - and while Bayliss said in his mind he was fairly close to knowing his strongest group of players for the Champions Trophy next summer the bench strength would come in useful.

"That will be on a case-by-case basis going forward, keeping a bit of an eye on the players," Bayliss said. "If they are showing any signs of fatigue we will try to find some way of giving them a bit of break. It certainly is an issue these days in the international game. We have a group of players so it is a chance for some of those guys to get a game in the next 12 months and be waiting in the wings if we need them."