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Gooch backs domestic overhaul
AFP
8 January 1999
LONDON, Jan 8 (AFP) - Tour manager Graham Gooch returned to London
without the Ashes trophy on Friday and said only a radical shake-up of
domestic cricket could put England's Test team back on the Test map.
Gooch, a former England captain, said a memorable win in Melbourne and
a fight to the finish in Sydney in the last two Tests had offered some
hope for English cricket.
But he felt big changes were needed in the domestic game before
England could expect to welcome another triumphant touring party back
from Down Under.
``We have got to radically look at the domestic structure. We are
putting into place a national league this year and going to two
divisions,'' said Gooch.
``We have got to produce tougher, leaner and more competitive domestic
cricket. In the long run, our Test side will benefit from that. You
can't create strong character overnight,'' he added.
But Gooch was happy to hear that the Ashes looked set to remain a
five-Test series at least for the immediate future.
The International Cricket Council are reported to be keen to keep the
longer Ashes showdowns despite rumours that England's poor recent run
of form and the pressure for some sort of world championship could
shorten the traditional series.
``England against Australia is the big one for England players. It's
the one they all want to play in and I would hate to see that devalued
by a shorter series,'' he added.
Meanwhile, England play Australia on January 10th in the first day of
the triangular one-day series which world cup champions Sri Lanka also
compete in.
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