In for a chaotic summer

There used to be a rhythm to the cricketing summer in England which has now been disrupted by the chaotic schedule for this year's Ashes, writes Matthew Engel in the Times.

There are three separate elements to the unholy trinity that will mark the start of the Ashes: Cardiff-Wednesday-July
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However, starting Tests on Thursdays was an unbroken tradition in England for half a century from 1955 to 2005. The Thursday start maximises revenue because it offers two strong weekdays to the corporate hospitality classes while still retaining an excellent probability of a full weekend. And the tradition became ingrained in the minds of all English cricket followers. Whatever other association Thursday might have in their lives — pay day, dustbin day, double maths, meet the lads at the pub night — they also knew that in summer it would very likely mean the start of a Test match: take the radio; check the web; switch on the telly. Only four of this summer’s seven Tests have Thursday starts. There will be utter confusion.