'Confused' schedule threatens Test team says Mark Ramprakash

Veteran batsman Mark Ramprakash believes the current domestic cricket schedule could harm England's performances in Test matches.

The 41-year-old, who played 52 Tests for England between 1991 and 2002, remains one of the top run scorers in the county game for Surrey.

But he is concerned that a packed schedule means young players are not being given enough time to hone their skills in the different forms of the game.

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He wrote in his column for www.thecricketer.com: "I hope people do not think I am over-egging this, but I am afraid cricket's authorities in this country are aiding and abetting the demise of Test match cricket by their continued insistence that we should play County Championship and Twenty20 matches right on top of each other in our domestic game.

"I have a lot of sympathy for young players desperately trying to get the balance right between the adrenalin-fuelled Twenty20 and needing patience and discipline for the four-day game.

"I understand fully the need for county clubs to make money from Twenty20, and county finances are currently under a lot of strain, but the domestic fixture list is so confused and damaging to our players at the moment that the English game's authorities are effectively saying that practice - proper practice and preparation for the different formats of the game - is not anywhere close to being a priority.

"If we get to the stage where the England Test team is underperforming, because those players being brought into it are not up to standard due to a below-par domestic game, where would that leave Test cricket in this country?"

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