In a bid to improve their performance down under, the ECB Chief Executive Tom Harrison believes young English players spending more time in Australia would be a good step.
The Three Lions suffered another Ashes humiliation down under when they lost the Urn in just 12 days, losing the first three Tests. ECB has since received plenty of suggestions on how English Test cricket can improve. Suggestions that range from moving the County Championship to April-May to having flatter pitches.
Harrison, the ECB Chief Executive, has written formally to Cricket Australia to allow English players take part in the Sheffield Shield.
In an interview with BBC’s Test Match Special, he stated that the young English players need more playing time in Australian conditions.
“The reality is we need to be spending a lot more time with players in Australian conditions.
I’ve had a number of conversations with Cricket Australia and have written formally to Cricket Australia to ask if they would consider allowing us to put players into Sheffield Shield cricket, for example, as one significant change that we can bring to bear.”
Harrison added that England have had to cancel quite a few individual player preparation plans in Australia due to COVID-19. A few other tours that could’ve prepared young players for the Australian challenge had to be shelved.
The County Championship allows players from all over the world to play in English domestic cricket. Plenty of Australian cricketers have had the experience of playing in County Cricket, including current Ashes squad members Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Marcus Harris and Michael Neser, who were part of the 2021 edition.
But the County Championship has 18 teams while the Sheffield Shield has only six – limiting the opportunities for any overseas players.
Isa Guha, a current broadcaster and ex-England international, believes this step can help improve the quality of the Ashes down under. Fans and broadcasters want a more competitive contest and it could be in everyone’s interest to have England players in the Shield.
“There’s a few good cricketers doing well in the BBL from England, and I think they could have a huge impact on Sheffield Shield cricket as well,”
she told News Corp.
