England facing fixture meltdown in South Africa
With five Test and seven one-day internationals to be crammed into next year's tour of South Africa, England are facing the most congested itinerary ever
Wisden Cricinfo staff
11-Jan-2004
When England were thumped by an innings and 215 runs in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka last month, part of the blame was apportioned to a gruesome itinerary that had crammed three Tests into 21 days. Judging by the prospective dates for next winter's trip to South Africa, however, no lessons have been learned whatsoever.
With five Test and seven one-day internationals to be crammed into a two-month trip, England are facing the most congested itinerary ever. They could be playing on as many as 37 days out of 59, and the final three Tests - including the traditional Boxing Day and New Year Tests - are set to be played back-to-back.
The situation is complicated by England's scheduled trip to Zimbabwe in November. That tour seems unlikely to go ahead for political reasons, although the United Cricket Board of South Africa would face a backlash from the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, the ICC and even their government if they attempted to farm their itinerary into that available space. England could stay in the country for longer, and spread the load in that way, but with Zimbabwe are to arrive in South Africa in February for a Test tour of their own.
The situation is unlikely to be welcomed by either Michael Vaughan or his opposite number Graeme Smith, who were involved in back-to-back Tests at Trent Bridge and Headingley last summer. The ECB has so far declined to discuss the specifics of the schedule. "We are still in discussions with the South African board," said a spokesman. "Nothing has been confirmed."
Possible schedule
Dec 4 Nicky Oppenheimer XI (1-day) Dec 6-10 1st Test, St George's Park, Port Elizabeth Dec 13-17 2nd Test, Wanderers, Johannesburg Dec 19-22 v Free State/Griquas, Kimberley Dec 26-30 3rd Test, Kingsmead, Durban Jan 2-6 4th Test, Newlands, Cape Town Jan 10-14 5th Test, Centurion Jan 17 1st ODI, Centurion Jan 19 2nd ODI, Bloemfontein Jan 22 3rd ODI, Cape Town Jan 25 4th ODI, Port Elizabeth Jan 27 5th ODI, Durban Jan 30 6th ODI, Benoni Jan 31 7th ODI, Johannesburg.
Dec 4 Nicky Oppenheimer XI (1-day) Dec 6-10 1st Test, St George's Park, Port Elizabeth Dec 13-17 2nd Test, Wanderers, Johannesburg Dec 19-22 v Free State/Griquas, Kimberley Dec 26-30 3rd Test, Kingsmead, Durban Jan 2-6 4th Test, Newlands, Cape Town Jan 10-14 5th Test, Centurion Jan 17 1st ODI, Centurion Jan 19 2nd ODI, Bloemfontein Jan 22 3rd ODI, Cape Town Jan 25 4th ODI, Port Elizabeth Jan 27 5th ODI, Durban Jan 30 6th ODI, Benoni Jan 31 7th ODI, Johannesburg.