English cricket prepares for IPL test
Not for the first time English cricket is being left behind as the rest of world is swamped by the riches of the IPL
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Not for the first time English cricket is being left behind as the rest of world is swamped by the riches of the IPL. Due to their touring commitments and county season no England players have yet to join the IPL, buy as Scyld Berry reports in The Sunday Telegraph that could be about to change.
It is only a matter of time - and a few days at that - before English cricketers join the IPL and miss the start of the coming county season. England's top 12 players are on central contracts so they won't be going anywhere except New Zealand in the next few weeks. But that leaves several marketable players who are currently being tempted by offers.
And he says that "when (not if)" players begin to sign it will test the county's attitudes towards the IPL.
There is simply no precedent for a county player going off to play somewhere else during the county season: it is only recently that the economies of the East have boomed.
In The Observer, Jamie Jackson tries to make sense of all the goings on of the past weeks and speaks to some of the main men involved.
Modi, though, hardly seems to care. In a further indication of just who now holds the power in world cricket, he was dismissive of the ICC's proposal, tabled on Thursday, that an official window for the IPL should not be created in the international calendar.
This is due to be ratified next month, but Modi is not moved. 'I'm not concerned. Most countries' season ends in March, apart from the West Indies and England,' he says, apparently dismissive that English cricket's pre-season will prevent Kevin Pietersen and company playing unless an official window is created. 'Our time of year [for the IPL] has traditionally been free, it is a natural window - and I'm sure that will stay.'
Andrew McGlashan is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo