Swann wants ODIs scrapped

Graeme Swann, the England offspinner, has said he would favour a scrapping of one-day international cricket to ease the congestion in a packed fixture list but doesn't expect many supporters for his controversial idea.

Swann, who is currently the No. 3 bowler in ODI cricket and reached the top spot during the English season, admitted he prefers Test and Twenty20 cricket but has no plans to quit the 50-over format in the near future. Although he is 32, being a spin bowler means that Swann has a realistic chance of being part of the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand should he want to continue that long.

"I think one-day cricket will have to give at some point, hopefully for everyone," Swann told BBC Sport. "I don't think that game should carry on for much longer. For me it's not as enjoyable to play in. I think Test cricket and Twenty20 are the way forward for cricket."

Swann managed just two wickets in four one-dayers on England's tour of India during October but has been a key part of the limited-overs team since returning to the side in 2007 and has taken 90 wickets in 64 matches with a career-best of 5 for 28. He has recently filled in as Twenty20 captain in the absence of the injured Stuart Broad.

"We do play too much cricket and if something had to give my choice would be 50-over cricket, or make it 40-over cricket or something," he added. "But that's a purely personal choice. I don't think many people agree with me. I think I will finish [playing] before any changes take place so I will carry on playing whatever they put in front of me."

Swann also added that the postponement of the Test Championship until at least 2017 was "disturbing" and said that for England the five-day game is rated higher than the Champions Trophy, an ODI competition, which will now be played in 2013 as scheduled.

Earlier this week David Collier, the ECB chief executive, insisted the English board remained committed to making the Test Championship a reality. "It is common knowledge that we were the main advocates for the Test Championship and we still believe in that very strongly," he said

England are currently the No. 1 ranked team in Test and Twenty20 cricket but have struggled to rise above mid-table in the 50-over format. They exited the 2011 World Cup at the quarter-final stage and although they beat India and Sri Lanka during their home season they were whitewashed 5-0 in India.