Full IPL window for Morgan, Bopara

Even while taking place under cover of the World Cup, the IPL auction has the potential to cause ripples throughout the game, so events in Bangalore on Monday will have been watched closely by county chief executives. England players have not tended to attract much attention but, on this occasion, three of the five put on the block were sold - though only two have county contracts.

Middlesex and Essex would have been prepared to lose Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara, both of whom have played in the IPL before. They will now have to plan for them to be absent for the duration of the competition, which runs from April 8 until May 24, after the ECB decided to allow them the maximum window of availability.

This is a shift in policy from previous years, when England have tended to require contracted players to cut short their spells in the T20 league, and was influenced by the fact the 2016 World T20 will take place in India. Morgan and Bopara, who are on ECB increment deals, are likely to be involved in that tournament and the hope is that their IPL exposure can enhance England's chances.

New Zealand are the opposition during the first part of England's 2015 home season, starting with two Tests in May, but it is some time since Morgan or Bopara were involved in that format and they will be back well before the first ODI on June 9.

The ECB is also planning to give its own T20 competition, the NatWest Blast, a boost by making all England players available for the fourth round of matches on June 5, fitness permitting. In a busy summer for England, with an Ashes series also scheduled, this will be a rare opportunity to prioritise the domestic game.

The third England-qualified player to have been picked up by an IPL franchise is currently not in line to play in the Blast. Kevin Pietersen fought repeatedly with the ECB over its IPL stance - it was a central issue in the 2012 breakdown in relations that led to Pietersen being dropped - but his new Sunrisers Hyderabad team-mates Morgan and Bopara will be the ones to benefit. That could make for another talking point in the dressing room.

In 2014, Pietersen helped Surrey to Finals Day but restrictions to the salary cap and the signing of Kumar Sangakkara mean he is unlikely to return. Sangakkara was one of those overlooked at the IPL auction, which should be to Surrey's benefit. His commitments to Sri Lanka remain uncertain, with Test series scheduled for June and August, but the absence of an IPL deal is one less obstacle to his arrival.

The lack of interest in Alex Hales, the No. 3-ranked T20 batsman, and Michael Carberry, who played a key role in Perth Scorchers' Big Bash success over the winter, means that both will be around for the start of the season at Nottinghamshire and Hampshire respectively. Yorkshire had already covered for the loss of Aaron Finch - bought for £350,000 by Mumbai Indians - by bringing in Younis Khan for the start of the season.

For those established international players not invited to the IPL ball - such as Hashim Amla, Doug Bollinger and Tillakaratne Dilshan - there might even be the possibility of a spell in county cricket to soothe the pain.