Mumbai: The BCCI is doing all it can to give the Indian cricket team a chance to maintain their No.1 Test ranking as the Indian cricket board has now sent a proposal to Cricket Australia to convert the seven-match ODI series in October to two Tests and three ODIs.

India had climbed to the top spot in 2009 after beating Sri Lanka 2-0 at home, and then retained the ranking by fighting back to level the two-Test series against South Africa in February.

“We’ve got an open mind on it but its being discussed and that could be the road down which we will go,” a CA spokesman told the Australian on Tuesday.

This is not the first time that the BCCI has requested another board to change the original itinerary of a proposed tour. Earlier this year, Cricket South Africa was scheduled to play a five-match ODI series against India but it was converted to a tour of two Tests and three ODIs. India’s change of mind came in the wake of ascending to the No.1 Test ranking for the first time, and they were eager to preserve it, which obviously isn’t possible without playing a considerable number of games.

According to the ICC’s Future Tours Programme, India is scheduled to play only a handful of Tests in 2010, an aberration the BCCI is desperate to correct. India has so far played four tests this year and are scheduled to play three in Sri Lanka in July, and then another three at home against New Zealand at the end of the year.

Asked if the BCCI had indeed formally requested the Australian board, BCCI secretary, N Srinivasan, did not deny or confirm the news, saying he would be issuing a press release soon on the matter.

Cricket Australia, meanwhile, were more forthright and positive about the development.

“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,” the spokesman said.  ”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.”

Related News Headlines

• No Related Post

Cricketain Latest

• Sachin, Dhoni, Sehwag in race for ICC awards
• No-ball row: Sangakkara takes full responsibility
• BCCI will not pursue no-ball matter with SLC
• BCCI denies compelling fatigued cricketers to play
• Bowlers in desperate need of a break: MS Dhoni
• Yuvraj out with dengue, Nehra uncertain for Sri Lanka ODI
• “Pakistan players should be allowed to play in IPL 4”
• ECB asks Pietersen to stay away from Lalit Modi
• Munaf Patel called up as cover for Ishant
• Final squads for CLT20 announced, Flintoff not in CSK squad