India wants Aussies to replace ODIs with Tests

Melbourne:

Keen to give India enough opportunities to maintain their number one Test ranking, BCCI has requested Cricket Australia to replace a seven-match one-day series with two Tests and three ODIs.

The one-day series is scheduled for October in India. Cricket Australia has not given a nod to the proposal yet but indications are they may agree for the change keeping in mind their own Ashes Series preparations.

"We've got an open mind on it but it's being discussed and that could be the road down which we will go. One of the thoughts going through our heads is that we've got an Ashes series coming up and all we've got between now and then is two Tests against Pakistan in England during July.

"Playing Tests in India in October may not be a bad idea because it gives us another chance to have another reasonably contemporary Test experience under the belt," a CA spokesman was quoted as saying by the 'Australian'.

India are not scheduled to play any Tests this year and they may find it difficult to maintain their top ranking because of the long gap in Test series.

Earlier this year, BCCI had got India's one-day series against South Africa replaced with two Tests and three ODIs.

India became the top Test team in December last year and are only the third team to achieve the feat after Australia and South Africa since the Test Championship was introduced in May 2001.

Currently, India have 124 points, South Africa 120 and Australia 119.