Australia’s main gamers may discover it tougher to get a county gig throughout Ashes summers as a part of the ECB’s plans to win again the urn.
English home cricket has frequently offered Australians with an opportunity to hone their sport forward of collection in England, with Steve Smith having fun with a three-match stint at Sussex in 2023, and Marnus Labuschagne turning out for Glamorgan in six of the final seven seasons, together with the Ashes summers of 2019 and 2023.
Talking earlier than the fifth and closing Take a look at in Sydney, England captain Ben Stokes admitted: ‘I’ve by no means actually understood it.’
County coaches and executives have lengthy defended the transfer on the grounds that their very own gamers study from the imports, whereas county members are rewarded for his or her subscriptions by getting to look at a number of the greatest gamers on this planet.
However Every day Mail Sport understands that the ECB will think about using the gentle energy accrued by the cash introduced into the home sport by the sale of the Hundred franchises to steer counties to position the nationwide facet’s pursuits forward of their very own.
Australia subsequent tour England in 2027, and no stone will likely be left unturned within the bid to regain the Ashes, which England haven’t held for the reason that 2017-18 collection.
Australia’s main gamers may discover it tougher to get a county gig throughout Ashes summers
With the £520m Hundred windfall permitting some golf equipment to repay long-standing money owed, the temper could by no means have been extra amenable to acceding to the governing physique’s requests.
And the board have a powerful advocate in Stokes, who stated: ‘It’s odd whenever you see touring groups or gamers get given alternatives to play county cricket earlier than a giant collection. I’ve by no means actually understood it. You by no means see it anyplace else on this planet.
‘I do not suppose Australia would signal a visa for certainly one of our lads coming over and enjoying Sheffield Protect video games earlier than an Ashes.’
Stokes additionally stated it was a pity Australia would not be enjoying at Headingley in 2027, the place England have received three of the final 4 Ashes Checks.
‘It is all cash is not it?’ he stated. ‘That is it. Whoever throws essentially the most cash goes to get a sport, which is a disgrace for us as gamers, as a result of Headingley is superior to play at, particularly in an Ashes sport. So it is a bit of a disgrace there will not be a sport there.’
The Ashes venues in 2027 will likely be Edgbaston, Lord’s, Trent Bridge, Southampton’s Utilita Bowl and The Oval.
