ECB block Root from playing IPL
JOE ROOT has been told by England that he cannot put himself forward as a replacement in next season’s Indian Premier League after giving him permission to play in Australia’s Big Bash. It was confirmed last night that both Root and Jos Buttler will take part in the first half of the Big Bash season this winter for Sydney Thunder, in between England’s tours of Sri Lanka and West Indies. But England are conscious of workloads ahead of the World Cup and the Ashes next year. So Root has been told he cannot take any places that may become available in IPL squads next April. The same does not appear to apply to Buttler even though he now plays in all formats for England. There is no room in the Big Bash for Ben Stokes, as predicted by Sportsmail. He was cleared of affray but faces an ECB disciplinary hearing, and Australian sides are reluctant to hire him after their own players — Steve Smith and David Warner — were given year-long bans over the ball-tampering scandal. Stokes has been cleared to play in tonight’s Blast quarter-final for Durham against Sussex.