England stars “should not miss internationals to play in the IPL” says Atherton

Michael Atherton has said England should never allow their players to miss Test cricket in order to play in the IPL,

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This year, England have utilised a policy of rest and rotation which began with their subcontinent tours of Sri Lanka and India.

The likes of Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali and Sam Curran were all rested during those tours, with England keen to allow players time away from bubble life.

England then permitted their stars to participate in the IPL, which began in April and was postponed in May due to rising Covid cases in India.

When England kicked off their summer of cricket with a two-Test series against New Zealand, who went on to win the inaugural ICC World Test Championship, they controversially rested Chris Woakes, Buttler, Curran, Moeen and Bairstow because of their involvement in the IPL.

Former England captain Michael Atherton has criticised the rest and rotation policy and has insisted that “players should not miss international duty to play in the IPL”.

In his latest column for the Times, Atherton wrote: “Central contracts were the most important reason for England’s improvement in Test cricket around the turn of the century. It is right that players are well-remunerated and looked after.

“Right now, the balance has tilted too far to the value of the retainer contract, and away from playing time. Match fees should be raised and the retainer reduced.

“The leading multi-format players are paid seven-figure sums, but, incredibly, the ECB washes its hands of them for two months of the year during the Indian Premier League.

“The players should be told that, while the ECB will be accommodating of the request to play in IPL, a 12-month contract is exactly that, and the granting of a no-objection certificate to play in IPL and other franchised competitions is contingent on it being in the best interests of the England team.

“Players should not miss international duty to play in the IPL, nor be rested and rotated to allow them to play elsewhere.

“The carry-on during the winter, and at the start of the English summer, should not happen again.”