Double Ashes series confirmed for 2013
England and Australia will play each other in ten consecutive Tests across two series home and away in 2013-14, after it was confirmed by Cricket Australia that the dates of the next Ashes series Down Under have been brought forward by a year.
The situation, which last occurred in 1974-75, has been forced upon the two boards by the competing demands of the 2015 World Cup, which is also scheduled to be held in Australia and which, had the 2014-15 Ashes gone ahead as planned, would have required England's cricketers to remain in the country for five months.
A proposal to bring England's next home series, in 2013, forward by a year was thwarted by the competing demands of the London Olympics. England's subsequent home Ashes summer will take place in 2016, with the traditional four-year home-and-away rotation expected to kick in from then on.
''We do have those two Ashes series that are back to back,'' CA spokesman Peter Young told The Sydney Morning Herald. ''One concern that England had, which is understandable, in 2015 if they'd played Ashes then the World Cup, the England team would have to stay in Australia for five months - that's just way too long.''
A major consideration for CA was the prospect of a new round of TV rights negotiations, as the current deal is set to expire in May 2013. With India due to tour in 2011-12, followed by South Africa, England and the World Cup, the board is anticipating four consecutive seasons of high-quality international cricket.
''The Ashes have an x-factor element that excites the Australian public," said Young. "The Ashes make turnstiles spin and they drive the ratings up. In terms of the next media contract, it's an ideal starting point because it's a lucrative blue chip series and all the networks would give their eye teeth to get hold of it."
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