Strauss critical of early start to championship campaign

Although the England and Wales Cricket Board has reduced the number of competitions from four to three this summer, each county has more days of cricket.

That has forced the championship, traditionally the flagship competition, to begin today.

The 2010 season is due to end on September 18 with a showpiece 40-over final at Lord's but Strauss, whose lack of involvement in the World Twenty20 means he is set to be available to his county Middlesex for much of the early season, has his reservations.

"I think we're playing too much and that's been the case for a number of years," he said.

"I think from a county squad's perspective you've got to think how to get the best out of the players you've got and that might mean rotation policies or resting players occasionally, especially the bowlers, in order to make sure the team is still functioning well come September."

THE ECB have appointed David Saker as England's fast bowling coach.

The 43-year-old takes over from Ottis Gibson, who was appointed the West Indies' head coach in February, and will join England for the ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean at the end of the month.

Saker joins the ECB following six years as assistant coach of Victoria, the Australian state he represented on 49 occasions.