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By BBC Sport's Joe Wilson
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Strauss sets out England blueprint
A compromise appears to be close which would allow England players to participate in this year's Indian Premier League, BBC Sport understands.
England captain Andrew Strauss says there is a "huge will" to finalise the players' central contracts and sort out the IPL issue.
A suggested 15-day limit for England players in the IPL does not suit the franchises involved in the tournament.
But they could stay longer and still return for England's first home Test.
That match is against West Indies at Lord's on 6 May and it begins a busy summer which includes the eagerly-anticipated Ashes series with Australia.
Strauss hinted he would back such a plan, saying he would "trust" the players to be fully prepared for the domestic season.
The deadline for players to be entered into the IPL auction is February 4, coincidentally the day when England begin the first Test in Jamaica.
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The tournament is due to begin on 10 April and run for seven weeks.
In India there is excitement about the prospect of the top England players taking part in the IPL.
Kevin Pietersen continues to be linked with Bangalore and Andrew Flintoff with Chennai.
But there is concern that flying in for just a handful of games would offer the franchises little except the prospect of disrupting team spirit.
Staying in India for a longer period of time could well prevent England players taking part in a County Championship match before the Lord's Test against West Indies.
But Strauss pointed out that the players who are likely to be involved in the IPL are ''experienced campaigners'' and he seems happy to give them personal responsibility to be ''fully prepared'' for the start of the English summer.
The Professional Cricketers Association are playing a key role in the negotiations and are anxious that England are not left isolated as the only country not to be represented in the IPL.
Meanwhile, Strauss has made it clear that he wants Kevin Pietersen's primary focus on tour in the Caribbean to be making runs.
 Pietersen (r) applauds Strauss after his century against India in Chennai
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Despite his senior status as a former captain Pietersen will not initially be part of the players' committee which acts as a go-between with the squad and tour management.
Paul Collingwoood, Andrew Flintoff, Alastair Cook, and Stuart Broad are involved for the Test matches, although Pietersen will replace Cook once the one-day series begins.
Strauss says it is a case of ''gradually reintroducing'' Pietersen into a senior role in the team.
His vision may be for personal responsibility amongst the players but there is no doubt that, in his own polite way, Strauss is making it clear that he is in charge.
England leave on Wednesday for the West Indies, where they will play four Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international.
The final game of the tour is on 3 April - just 12 days before the start of the County Championship.
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