England’s T20 stars able to gain invaluable experience
THE Indian Premier League is over for another year and as we dry our collective tears it is time to reflect on the performances of the English players who took part in it.
There were 10 in total – Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes.
The stars of the show from an English perspective were Archer and Sam Curran, both of whom have been rested from the forthcoming one- day international series in South Africa due to their exertions, along with Stokes.
England are keen for their leading players to experience the challenge of playing in the T20 franchise tournaments, especially with back- to- back T20 World Cups on the horizon, emphasising the new priorities in cricket today with the IPL taking precedence, in this case, over international matches.
For Sam Curran, the 22- yearold all- rounder, the 13th IPL was a particular success. The Surrey left- hander is aiming to become a regular in England’s T20 team and he did himself no harm with some fine performances for Chennai Super Kings.
In 14 appearances, Curran scored 186 runs at 23.25 with a strike- rate of 131 and, in his main suit of bowling, took 13 wickets at 26.46 with an economy rate of 8.19. Along with Rahul Tewatia, the 27- year- old Indian, Curran was one of only two allrounders to complete the double of 150 runs and 10 wickets in the tournament’s group stage, impressing with some powerful hitting and his bowling up front.
Thus far, Curran has played only five T20 internationals, all of them in New Zealand last winter when England were not at full strength. The upcoming T20 series in South Africa is thus important for him as he bids to feature in the first of those T20 World Cups in India next year.
Archer’s appearance in that tournament can be taken as read. The 25- year- old, who has played only four T20 internationals himself ( albeit he has featured in England’s last three), is pretty much the complete cross- format package.
Archer took 20 wickets at 18.25 for Rajasthan Royals – the thirdbest tally in the tournament’s group stage – with an economy rate of 6.55. He also chipped in with late- order runs and fielded impressively.
Stokes, for his part, made his competitive comeback at the IPL having not played since early August because of a family illness. As such, he arrived late in the United Arab Emirates – to where the competition was relocated due to the pandemic – and then had to serve a period in quarantine.
When he finally made it on to the pitch, Stokes – promoted to open the batting – began steadily before a spectacular innings of 107 not out from 60 balls for Rajasthan Royals against Mumbai Indians, the eventual winners. Although he never quite hit the same heights with the ball, Stokes has nothing to prove and it was simply good to see him back on the field.
Elsewhere, Eoin Morgan impressed for Kolkata Knight Riders, the England white- ball captain scoring 418 runs at 41.80 with a strike- rate of 138.
Morgan was habitually consistent rather than frighteningly explosive, although the fact that he had the captaincy rather shoved on to him halfway through the group stage might have had something to do with that after Dinesh Karthik chose to relinquish the reins to focus on his batting.
Jonny Bairstow struck 345 runs at 31.36 ( strike rate 126) for Sunrisers Hyderabad, hammering a brilliant 97 from 55 balls against Kings XI before losing his place in the latter stages.
Jos Buttler made 328 runs at 32.80 ( strike rate 144) for Rajasthan Royals, starting the tournament as an opener/ wicketkeeper and ending it in the middle order and without the gloves.
Is Buttler a better opener or a finisher? The debate will continue.
Chris Jordan started poorly for Kings XI Punjab before finding his feet with nine wickets at 33.77, economy rate 9.65.
Tom Curran made only five appearances for Rajasthan Royals ( 83 runs, three wickets), Moeen Ali just three for Royal Challengers Bangalore ( 12 runs, one wicket) and Tom Banton only two for Kolkata Knight Riders ( 18 runs).
It was useful experience for all, however, as England bid to become double white- ball world champions.