ECB chief hits out at Ashes prep

The head of the England and Wales Cricket Board has taken a swipe at Cricket Australia over last year’s Ashes preparation in Australia.

ECB chief executive David Collier says the teams offered up for warm-up games by CA were well below full-strength, hampering England’s preparation which led to the second Ashes whitewash in seven years.

England began their tour against Western Australia in Perth, but with a Bupa Sheffield Shield round scheduled concurrently, the tourists competed against a depleted Warriors outfit.

"It was a Western Australian team denuded of players, it wasn't the full whack Western Australian side," said Collier. "Therefore, we couldn't play a full state side which we did in 2010.

"We spoke to Cricket Australia to say the arrangement is always that we try and play strong sides against each other in the lead up to the Ashes.

"We do feel very strongly that if we are to ensure that Test cricket is at the pinnacle of world game, that sides should go into a series as well prepared as they possibly can."

Despite their weakened opponent, England struggled to impose themselves, belted by guest player Chris Lynn (104) and the Warriors, declaring at 5-451d and scoring at more than four runs per over.

England also played tour matches ahead of the Ashes series against Australia A in Hobart and a CA Invitational XI in Sydney that was upgraded from a NSW XI after complaints from the ECB. England also played against a Chairman's XI in Alice Springs after their first Test hiding.

With the KFC T20 Big Bash League forcing Shield matches to be played before the Christmas break, the conflict between states fielding strong sides in Shield matches and XIs to face touring sides doesn’t look like being solved before England return in 2017.

Collier hinted future England tours may head to New Zealand for warm-up games ahead of the first Test if a better preparation isn’t on offer in Australia.

"It's always a consideration. It's not ideal, you would much prefer to play in Australia," says Collier.

Whether England would return the favour when Australia tour next winter, Collier confirms the visitors will have first-class competition.

"Counties will not field weakened teams. But we do have 18 counties. The point Cricket Australia would make would be they only have six states."