More one-dayers, fewer Tests, says Fletcher

Duncan Fletcher, England's coach, will upset the purists with his latest theory: that his side should play fewer Test matches to make way for more one-day games.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's first match of the NatWest Challenge series against India, which is a warm-up for the Champions Trophy, Fletcher told BBC Sport: "We're going to have to look at replacing the odd Test match here and there with a substitute of four one-dayers so players have decent breaks."

But Fletcher warned that these must not lead to player burnout. He said: "We must play more one-day cricket - but that doesn't mean we must play more cricket."

While England's Test side proved formidable this summer - they completed a 7-0 clean sweep against New Zealand and West Indies - the one-day team has fared less well, with three wins and six defeats in their last ten games.

England currently play less one-day cricket than the other leading teams. They have played just 17 one-day matches in 2004, and only Kenya have played fewer. Their comparative lack of match practice could explain why they are ranked a lowly eighth in the world. Every other side has played at least 20 matches, with Pakistan playing 33.

However, despite this, Michael Vaughan and his team go into the NatWest Challenge against India, the World Cup finalists, as marginal favourites. This is a combination of home advantage, the absence of Sachin Tendulkar with tennis elbow, and India's own questionable recent form - they have only won five of their last ten matches, and that includes victories over Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates.