World Cup should be main priority, says Marsh

England should concentrate on winning the World Cup in 2007, rather than worry about the next Ashes series, according to Rodney Marsh.

Marsh, the Australian wicketkeeping legend-turned-England cricket selector, made his point after naming a provisional 15-man squad for England's cricket academy. Marsh, who heads the academy, said that the team was selected with the accent on one-day cricket.

In his opinion, a drawn Ashes series in 2005 would be a good platform from which England could build towards 2007. He was perhaps mindful of the England and Wales Cricket Board's mission statement, which aims to establish England as the game's premier Test and one-day power by 2007.

Australia have won eight consecutive Ashes series since regaining the urn in 1989.