ECB Can't Advance Test Series Against India Due To Logistical Headache, The Hundred

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) may not entertain any possible request from the Indian cricket board to advance the five-match Test series between Indian and England to ensure that The Hundr

Another problem that has emerged is that tickets for the first three days of the fifth and final Test at Old Trafford, from September 10-14, have already been sold out. If the series is advanced, then it will create logistical headache.

"Moving the game at this late stage to earlier in the season would create logistical headaches for Lancashire, the ECB and the England team, not to say those spectators who have spent money and planned to attend," added Atherton.

Australian stars Glenn Maxwell, David Warner, Aaron Finch, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa and Jhye Richardson have all signed up for the maiden edition of The Hundred. However, all these players have been named in Australia's preliminary squad that will tour the West Indies for five T20 Internationals and three ODIs between July 9 and 24.

Australia may then tour Bangladesh too for a limited overs series that could act as warm-up for the T20 World Cup, currently scheduled to be played this October-November in India.

Besides Aussie stars, some prominent West Indies players, like Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran, may also have to skip the tournament as they will be busy against visiting Australians at home.

West Indies also play Pakistan from July 27 to August 3 in five T20 Internationals and in two Test matches from August 12 to 24.

Three Pakistani players -- Mohammed Amir, Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan -- are in The Hundred. While Amir isn't part of the Pakistan team anymore, both Afridi and Khan are integral part of Pakistan set-up. They might also skip The Hundred.

The unavailability of top foreign stars in The Hundred may force ECB to keep the English players in the tournament and thus not entertain any requests to advance the dates for the Test series against India.