BRAVO GILO! ASHLEY IS RIGHT TO PUT FOOT DOWN OVER IPL
It was one of the most significant moments for England cricket in quite some time. Our best players know exactly where they stand now. they will have to put their country ahead of the millions they can earn in the Indian Premier League.
Ashley Giles could easily have fudged the subject when he spoke to the written media on Monday. He could have pointed out that we don’t even know whether the postponed IPL will take place later this year, let alone when and where it will be.
Instead, the managing director of England cricket made it clear centrally- contracted players, including those solely on whiteball deals, must be in Bangladesh and Pakistan in September — not in the UAE if the IPL is moved there and there is a clash with those pre-t20 World Cup tours.
Good on him. Giles has shown himself to be a decisive, sometimes ruthless figure as a coach and since he took the career-defining decision to move into administration.
It seemed out of character for Giles to pussyfoot around the IPL in the last year or so, trying to deny that top England players like Jos Buttler had been rested for three important tests in India so they could play in a full IPL.
And giving those top players permission to miss two home tests against New Zealand next month, even if they were arranged after IPL deals had been struck, wasn’t right. Now Giles has reminded everyone who’s boss.
Let’s get this clear. England’s players are extremely well rewarded and well looked after now. the best earn in excess of a million a year. And they get rest periods, particularly in demanding Covid times. It is not the football-type money that can be earned for two months in the IPL but it is a lucrative living.
England should always come first, just as it should have back in the day when Andy Flower rightly first stood up to Kevin Pietersen. If, in normal circumstances, there can also be room for an IPL window then great.
that primacy of the national team would have been in serious jeopardy had Giles caved in this September. A real precedent would have been set. It just remains to be seen whether any players or agents question Giles’ stand. I doubt they will. they are, first and foremost, England players and decent characters who know their wider responsibilities. In this instance, they just needed a little reminder they are ECB employees, not freelancers. Viva the King of Spain.
******* It WAS Wisden.com who last year first reported Azeem Rafiq’s claims of institutionalised racism by Yorkshire.
Only then were the county stung into action, promising a full, independent inquiry. Rafiq, as he pointed out in these pages last month, is still waiting for the outcome of that inquiry. It has been suggested that those who are willing to speak out in support of him have not been spoken to.
Yorkshire last week told Wisden.com they will be refused access for interviews with any players while the investigation is ongoing. What a small-minded and pathetic move. Instead of shooting the messenger, Yorkshire should conclude their inquiry and make public their results as a matter of urgency. Otherwise, a menacing cloud will continue to hang over the county.
******* WE’VE highlighted the county streaming services that are revolutionising coverage of the grand old lady of the domestic game — and Sky took that further when they moved to fill gaps in their schedules left by the postponed IPL with Championship cricket.
First up was the chance for Gloucestershire’s James Bracey to showcase the talent that looks sure to bring him a test debut against New Zealand. Now there is more on Sky, starting tomorrow with Glamorgan’s match against Yorkshire. It is a wonderful development and, with the Hundred on the horizon, a timely boost for Championship cricket.