Record price-tag sees Cummins picked up by the Knight Riders
ENGLAND have been forced to hastily revise their preparations for the Boxing Day Test against South Africa due to an illness bug sweeping the camp, with today’s final warm-up match downgraded from first-class status.
Key seamers Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer, as well as first-choice spinner Jack Leach, missed the opening match against an Invitational XI after being hit by flu-like symptoms, which have got progressively worse over the past two days.
On Thursday three other members of the squad, including Joe Denly, and two of the coaching staff, were struck down by a similar condition, leaving England’s management to appeal to the home board to reclassify the
England head coach has seen his plans disrupted by illness.
fixture as an effective friendly. Cricket South Africa had named a strong side for the match and were prepared for an intense contest but co-operated on the switch.
It is unlikely Broad, Archer or
Leach would have been cleared to play in a fully-fledged competitive match and, should they have missed their last chance of a meaningful tune up, England’s plans for Centurion would have been on the brink of disarray.
As it is they are no longer bound to name an XI and can utilise their full squad over the course of the next three days, raising hopes of getting some meaningful game time into those affected.
The development will frustrate head coach Chris Silverwood, who is keen on first-class warmup matches in a bid to combat England’s reputation as slow starters on tour. Silverwood may still rue the lack of an extra pace option, though. Mark Wood is part of the travelling squad but is not expected to be available until the third Test at the earliest.
PAT CUMMINS, the Australia fast bowler, became the most expensive overseas player in Indian Premier League history at the annual player auction yesterday.
Cummins, 26, benefited from a bidding war between Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders, Kolkata winning with a price of £1.7m.
The other million-pound earners were Glenn Maxwell, the Australia all-rounder and former Yorkshire player, bought by Kings XI Punjab for £1.15m, and Chris Morris, the South Africa all-rounder, purchased by Royal Challengers Bangalore for £1.1m.
There were huge deals, too, for Sheldon Cottrell, the West
JONNY BAIRSTOW:
Indies fast bowler, a £914,000 buy for Kings XI Punjab, and for Australia pace man Nathan Coulter-Nile, who went to Mumbai Indians for £863,000.
Sam Curran, the England all-rounder, was snapped up for £590,000 by Chennai Super Kings, while England captain Eoin Morgan went to Kolkata Knight Riders for £563,000.
England’s Jason Roy and Chris Woakes were both signed for £161,000 by Delhi Capitals, with Yorkshire’s Jonny Bairstow and England team-mate Moeen Ali retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore respectively. Their England colleagues Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer were each retained by Rajasthan Royals.
The 13th edition of IPL, scheduled to start in April, also saw England’s Chris Jordan join Kings XI for £323,000.
Sam Curran’s brother, Tom, was bought by Rajasthan and Somerset’s Tom Banton acquired by Kolkata, both for £108,000.