Looking ahead to this summer's seven Test matches in England, captain Nasser Hussain has voiced his concern about the effect of the hectic international schedule on the players.

England play three Tests against Sri Lanka and four against India this summer, with a one-day tournament involving the trio in between.

The one-day team will then compete in the ICC Champions trophy in Colombo, go on to Australia for a five-match Ashes series and more one-day games, before rounding off a whirlwind 10 months at the World Cup in South Africa.

"There is a feeling around the game that we do want a little bit less cricket to make it more important," said Hussain.

"There is so much cricket, a one-dayer here, a one-dayer there on the other side of the world, Test matches, triangular series, we don't know who is playing who now. You could be playing the ninth game of a 12-match series."

"For young bowlers like Hoggard and Flintoff, particularly with captains like me, the extra cricket could have an effect. I bowled them into the ground last winter because you want to win every game.

"When you are out there you are not thinking about four years' time, you just want to win the game. With captains like me around it will wear them down and careers will shorten.

"I don't know if it is good or bad for the game, better people than me will have to work that out."

Although 11 players have already been contracted to England for the summer, Hussain insists others will be considered for selection for the opening Test, at Lord's on May 16.

"People just look at the contracts and see that as being the team, thinking that others cannot get in," said Hussain.

"But the contracts and the team that we will select next week are different. We will look at the conditions at Lord's, who has played well there before and how we have won games there before and will pick a side to beat Sri Lanka. The boys with the contracts, of course, will be high on our lists."

Hussain again stood by the Essex wicket-keeper James Foster, following speculation the Alec Stewart could be in the frame for a recall after an impressive start to the season.

Speaking at the ECB's new initiative to entice youngsters to play the game, the launch of the Lion's Den at The AMP Oval, Hussain said: "We have got to give him a go. He's the future. Obviously Alec's name will come up from time to time, he's a world-class cricketer.

"But there's no point in us going round in circles. Mistakes are made by every young player that comes into international cricket, Graham Thorpe and Marcus Trescothick are the only two that have come in and been major successes straightaway.

"In my time I hope to give every young cricketer that comes in, whoever they may be, a chance. It's easy for the selectors to pick our best side to try and win this Test series. But Duncan has a saying about looking after the next week or looking after the future. Which is most important?

"It's selfish to look after the next week -- we have a responsibility beyond that. English cricket demands success, however, so we have to try and balance it and beat Sri Lanka and India."

© CricInfo Ltd.