Yorkshire coach supportive of England's points systems push, but other current and past players are less convinced
Gillespie open to multi-format Ashes
Former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie says he is open to the concept of an Ashes series determined by a points system incorporating all three formats of the game.
Gillespie, currently in the United Kingdom coaching Yorkshire, said he supported the planned introduction of the points system for England’s home tours against Sri Lanka and Pakistan this year – and didn’t rule out the idea of it being extended to include cricket’s oldest tradition.
The system has been used in the women’s Ashes since 2013, with four points awarded for a Test win and two for ODIs and T20s.
"I’m happy to see how it goes,” Gillespie said on BBC’s Stumped.
"The women’s Ashes last year were done via a points system and that seemed to get a lot of good feedback.
"Until you actually give it a crack you’re not going to know and there’s going to be debate and conjecture as to whether it’s a good idea or not."
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Asked whether he believes it could be extended to the Ashes, Gillespie said: "Sure, why not? I don’t think that the score line of the (Ashes) Test series would be affected by and large, but there might be scope to try it.
"I’m personally not sure it would ever happen, but I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see what the administrators decide."
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have agreed in principle to the points system and are currently in discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board, but the concept has been met with mixed responses from current and past players.
Last month, England allrounder Ben Stokes spoke out strongly against the suggestion a points system might one day be rolled out to include the men’s Ashes, saying it would be a mistake to mess with tradition.
"I think it would be rubbish," Stokes said.
"They've changed a lot of things, but Ashes is Ashes, it's a massive series for England and Australia and I don't see why it should get changed."
Meanwhile, former England captain Michael Vaughan is reluctant to see the concept introduced at all, calling it "nonsense".
"It’s an over-complication that is not needed," Vaughan told the BBC.
"I think it is nonsense. I really do."
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Vaughan instead called for the introduction of two separate divisions in world cricket, with the threat of relegation for underperforming teams.
"You need to get the better teams playing against each other more consistently; have two leagues," Vaughan told BBC.
"Create a tiered system where the best play against the best on a more regular basis.
"Create two divisions, (and series) will have relevance, (because) we’ll have promotion and relegation."
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England star Joe Root is more optimistic, believing it will add more interest to international tours.
"Whatever it is, it's going to make it extremely competitive and it might bring all three formats together a little bit more," Root said.
When a points system for the women’s Ashes was first introduced in 2013, it saw six points awarded for a Test victory (or two each for a draw) as well as two points for victory in a one-day international or Twenty20 match.
England retained the trophy despite winning fewer matches in the series, causing the Test weighting to be revised down to four points for a victory for the 2015 series, which Australia claimed 10-6.