Aussies propose umpiring change
Australia have proposed scrapping neutral umpires for this winter's Ashes series.
Under International Cricket Council guidelines both on-field officials must be neutral, but Cricket Australia have floated the idea that England's defence of the urn should be played out with the best possible candidates standing.
Peter Young, Cricket Australia's head of communications, said: "If we lived in a perfect world it would be great if the forthcoming Ashes series, played between the best two teams in the world, could have the best umpires in the world officiating. At the moment the best umpires officiating are Australians."
However, the proposal is unlikely to find favour with the England and Wales Cricket Board.
"The ICC have a well-established principle of appointing neutral umpires for Test matches," an ECB spokesman said.
"It's a process that the ECB are extremely comfortable with."
