Strauss wants one-day switch

England captain Andrew Strauss has backed calls for the restructuring of future tours so that one-day internationals are played before Test series.

England's long tour of Australia is slowly winding to a close following a protracted seven-match one-day international series which will conclude in Perth on Sunday. With the series already long decided - Australia lead 5-1 - interest has wavered at the end of a tour that reached its high point a month ago when England retained the Ashes.

Strauss admitted that playing a one-day series after the Test matches can be "hard work" and believes playing the shorter format first is a better way to ensure interest is retained for the entirety of a tour. "Wherever possible I think that's a better way of doing it," he said.

"I've been involved in a lot of tours where the one-dayers at the end have been hard work. Not just for us but the other teams as well. In some ways it's quite a good way to whet the appetite for the five-day matches coming up.

"That's something the administrators can look at and I think it makes for better cricket personally."

The limited overs series was played before the Test matches in the memorable 2005 Ashes summer, when England were able to use the shorter format to inspire confidence for their historic success.

"I think that worked pretty well in 2005," said Strauss who also called for a reduction in the number of 50-over games.

"I personally think that five one-dayers is enough, but there are a lot of other considerations to take into account.

"The administrators have to think about the future of the game and funding the various initiatives that they have. It's always a difficult one to answer.

"The crowds have been pretty healthy and apparently it will be a full house here tomorrow so that's a good thing."