Ashes series to be screened in city parks

Giant screens in English city parks will show action from this year's Ashes series between England and Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said today.

An ECB statement said free screenings would be staged in Southampton (July 10-11), Liverpool (July 18-19), Cambridge (August 1-2), Derby (August 8-9) and London (August 22-23).

Meanwhile, England Test captain Andrew Strauss has argued that the best captain for the Twnty20 side could come from the county ranks.

"I think the fact some of the county guys have played more than the international players helps them," said Strauss.

"Twenty20 is a very different format of the game and accordingly you need to plan for that format and don't look past that when you come to decide the side."

Strauss' comments will be seen as a boost for the favourite for the job, Rob Key.

Strauss continued: "The rumours you hear on the county circuit is that Rob has done a pretty good job. He is a good operator and definitely one of the names on the list.

"KP has to decide how keen he is to come back as captain. They (Flintoff, Pietersen and Collingwood) have all had issues doing the job which makes them more reluctant to do it in the future.

"That doesn't mean they definitely rule themselves out - but that is something we will have to ask them."

Strauss was left out of the prelinary 30-man England squad for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup.