England to lose one Ashes test

England and Australia are ready to break with tradition by cutting the five-Test Ashes series to four matches in the winter of 2002-3.

Tim Lamb, chief executive of the England Cricket Board, said the two countries are considering dropping one game - probably in Perth or Brisbane - because the new international programme makes it difficult to squeeze in five. They fear that cricket's new World Championship will put too big a demand on players. The next World Cup in South Africa in February 2003, will also clog the fixture list.

Australia are scheduled to play in Pakistan in October 2002 and that will be followed by the next ICC Knockout Tour, and then the Ashes series. In late 2002, Australia are also committed to a two-Test series against Sri Lanka.

News that an Ashes Test will be lost to either Perth or Brisbane will cause outrage in those cities because England remain a big box-office draw. But Lamb insists the four-Test series would be 'exceptional' and would not set a precedent.