Fourth Ashes Test: Old Trafford, 4-8 September.

[bigfluffylemon]

I suppose one of the side effects of the test championship is that sides will perhaps not want to risk trying something new in dead rubbers because they are worried about the points. I confess the idea of a test championship excites me not a jot

I dunno, I kinda like the idea. For one, it means that there are no dead rubbers any more. Surely that's a plus?

Not sure about the execution though - sides won't play the same number of matches, but the same points will be available for a series. So invite Bangladesh (say) over for a 2 test series, thrash them at home, and get the same number of points as if you'd won 5-0 away in Australia?

Meanwhile, England won't play NZ or Bangladesh, while Sri Lanka will not play Australia or India. There's no way that's fair scheduling. And England will play 22 matches to Sri Lanka's 13

[Durhamfootman]

Ah well.... doubtless the ICC know what they're doing

maybe they sought advice from the ECB, who are terrific at coming up with this sort of nonsense

[Durhamfootman]

Will we get the same numbers of points for beating Ireland in a standalone test as we will when we thrash the Aussies 5-0 in 2 years time?

ah... 2 years time....... a 5-0 win against the old enemy in their own backyard where the plan is to win by scoring runs so fast that the entire series will only take a week

[Arthur Crabtree]

So Curran and Woakes are in for Overton and Roy. And Stokes is batter-only.

[Durhamfootman]

will Stokes move up to 4 or will honest Joe pull rank?