England left short of practice, concedes Morgan

Lord's chief David Morgan is determined England will never undertake another tour like their ongoing slog around South Africa.

Michael Vaughan and his team have had to play five Tests in less than six weeks.

But England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Morgan's main concern is over the lack of preparation before the series began and the absence of games between Tests.

"It's not been ideal," said Morgan, the first England official to admit that Vaughan's men may have been handicapped by their schedule.

"I think it's a matter of concern there was so little first-class cricket available before the First Test [one three-day game] and then no opportunity to play non-international cricket between any of the five Tests.

"Shorter tours are becoming the norm, but tours of this kind cannot continue.

"There has to be more time for preparation. Not a huge amount more, but one more match at the beginning and possibly a two or three-day game during the series.

"It would not just be my hope that we don't have any more tours like this one, but something I would seek to help avoid."

Morgan says he feels particularly sorry for fringe players Chris Read, Gareth Batty and Paul Collingwood, who have not played first-class cricket since leaving home, while Jimmy Anderson went into the Fourth Test not having bowled a ball in anger for six weeks.