Demanding schedule awaits England

England are likely to face a demanding schedule when they tour Australia to defend the Ashes in 12 months time.

The tour will be sandwiched between the ICC Champions Trophy, to be held in India in November, and the World Cup in the West Indies in March. Despite the time constraints, five Tests will be squeezed together in just six weeks.

The ECB and Cricket Australia are still in negotiations but, as reported in The Daily Telegraph the schedule would mean England playing 25 days of Test cricket in just 45 days. Only between the second and third Tests are the players afforded a significant break of nine days.

"I'm afraid I can't comment on the itinerary because it has not been finalised, "John Carr, the ECB's director of cricket operations, told The Daily Telegraph.

"There are one or two points that are under discussion. As soon as it has been agreed, we will release it because there are a lot of people who want to know the dates so that they can make their plans.

"But it is going to be a very busy winter because of the Champions Trophy and the World Cup. The intention is to let the players have a couple of weeks between the Champions Trophy and the start of the Ashes tour, and a break after the Ashes series and the start of the World Cup, which will benefit both teams."