The governing body of Australian cricket said on Tuesday it had postponed the announcement of the 2006-2007 playing programme, including the Ashes Test series, because minor changes were needed.

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"Cricket Australia [ Images ] is still hopeful to be able to confirm the programme in the short term and will advise a new date for the announcement as soon as possible," the body said in a statement.

A recent report in an English newspaper speculated that the five Ashes Tests would be squeezed into a six-week window between November 23 and January 6.

The schedule is likely to be tight because the series has to fit in with the 2006 Champions Trophy [ Images ], to be held in India [ Images ] in October and November, and the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies [ Images ] in March and April.

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