What are your thoughts on Old Trafford's upcoming three year hiatus as a test venue?

Question

The current Eng-NZ test is Old Trafford's last for three years.

Answer 1

The venue for one of the tests against Bangladesh in 2010 is still up for grabs (prestigious!). Headingley has also been pushed down the pecking order of late. No 2005 Ashes test, only Bangladesh in 2010, and no test in 2011.

The ECB seem to have firmly established Lord's, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge and The Oval as the premier grounds. The four matches against West Indies in 2010, and the four against India in 2011 well be played at these grounds.

Perhaps the prissy MCC members don't want to travel to the "grotty" north.

Answer 2

What a shame, Old Trafford is to England what the MCG or SCG is to Australia.

Tradition has been swept aside yet again for whatever reason. It's probably a financial thing, I don't know why.

Answer 3

I hadn't heard that. What is the reason? It just won't be the same without Old Trafford among the test venues, albeit for only 3 years.

Answer 4

while i admit i dont like the idea of Old Trafford not being used, in particular for the ashes, we also have to accept that the game is growing, and england have to share around the international matches between the counties to share some of the revenue generated, the problem is having so many international spec grounds that sometimes old favourites have to miss out to promote growth in another area, tho thankfully, Lord's will still remain every year, if they tried to have an english winter without a game there all h**l would break loose!!