LONDON, Dec 9: India are legally obliged to play four Test matches in England next year despite an attempt to renegotiate the schedule, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Tim Lamb said.

Indian cricket head Jagmohan Dalmiya has said India will play the fourth Test at The Oval only if England agree to a sixth One-day International in India in January and a five-Test series when they return in 2005-6.

A report on the ECB’s official website said the board had correspondence signed by the Indian board’s former honorary secretary saying the dates and venues of next year’s tour were acceptable.

“As far as we are concerned we have a binding commitment and most lawyers would tell you that if historical practice was that tours were confirmed by exchange of correspondence then that letter in which they say it is okay is a binding commitment,” Lamb said.

“The letter in our possession is effectively a contract.”

Meanwhile, England cricket boss David Graveney said he is unhappy at England’s tour schedule for next year’s Ashes trip to Australia, the Mail on Sunday reported.

Chairman of selectors Graveney was not impressed that the Test and One-day International series are intertwined, with the third and fourth Test matches being split up by a triangular series also including Sri Lanka.

He said: “I’m very surprised that the tour has been split up in this way.

“I was under the belief that we would never again go down that path and that all future Tests and one-day tournaments would be played en bloc.

“I understand the financial implications but it has been proved that playing back-to-back Tests and one-day matches greatly increases the chances of injury.”

With a hectic summer schedule being followed by a punishing tour Down Under and then the World Cup in 2003, Graveney also fears his players could suffer from playing too much cricket.

He added: “I have pointed out to Malcolm Speed, the chief executive of the ICC, at every opportunity the dangers of burn-out for the top players in world cricket.

“Such a quantity of cricket means the quality is bound to suffer.”—Reuters/AFP