Windies open IPL window for Pietersen

No one will be happier with England's itinerary for next year's tour of the West Indies than Kevin Pietersen. The schedule, in which England play four Tests, a Twenty20 international and five one-dayers in the 10 weeks prior to 4 April, will allow the team's explosive batsman to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League should his employers, the England and Wales Cricket Board, allow him.

Pietersen will not be the only England player looking to cash in on the tour's early finish. Several players, of whom Pietersen has been the most vocal, have expressed disappointment that they have not been allowed to play in this year's IPL, even though it would have affected their preparations for the current Test series against New Zealand.

The tour of the West Indies was brought forward for two reasons; to enable the cricket season in the West Indies to finish earlier in the year; and to allow England's players to have a decent break before a busy summer. At home in 2009 England are scheduled to play two Tests and three one-dayers against Zimbabwe, host the Twenty20 World Cup and then compete with Australia for the Ashes.

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The timing of the tour will not please travel agents, who have historically taken tens of thousands of England supporters to Antigua and Barbados during the Easter holidays. In 2009 they will have to make do with half-term.

It will place Peter Moores, the England coach, in an unenviable position too. Ultimately it will be he who decides whether he wants his players to risk injury and burnout before such an important summer, or whether they will gain useful experience at Twenty20 cricket as well as fill their wallets in India. Does he start the summer with a fresh but disgruntled group of players or a weary, wealthy and contented lot?

Caribbean tour dates 2009

England tour of West Indies:

Sun 25-Tue 27 Jan Three-day practice match, Barbados

Thu 29-Sat 31 Jan Three-day first-class match, Barbados

Wed 4-Sun 8 Feb FIRST TEST, Jamaica

Fri 13-Tue 17 Feb SECOND TEST, Antigua

Sat 21-Sun 22 Feb Two-day match, Barbados

Thu 26 Feb-Mon 2 Mar THIRD TEST, Barbados

Fri 6-Tue 10 Mar FOURTH TEST, Trinidad

Sat 14 Mar One-day practice match, Trinidad

Sun 15 Mar Twenty20 international, Trinidad

Fri 20 Mar First one-day international, Guyana

Sun 22 Mar Second one-day international, Guyana

Fri 27 Mar Third one-day international, Barbados

Sun 29 Mar Fourth one-day international, Barbados

Fri 3 April Fifth one-day international, St Lucia (day-night)