IPL cuts into New Zealand Test preparation

The issue of the IPL clashing with the international calendar has arisen once again with the news that several key members of the New Zealand side are likely to arrive in England just two days before the start of the first Test between the countries in May.

New Zealand's captain, Brendon McCullum, is one of nine internationals signed up to participate in the IPL, which runs from April 8 until May 24. The first Test at Lord's will begin on May 21 and NZC has set a deadline of May 19 for those Test-squad members with IPL contracts to report for duty.

The clash means that New Zealand may well struggle to field a team in their two warm-up matches. As well as McCullum, Test regulars such as No.3 batsman Kane Williamson, allrounders Corey Anderson and James Neesham, and new-ball pair Tim Southee and Trent Boult have IPL contracts.

Lindsay Crocker, NZC's head of cricket, told the Dominion Post that the ECB had refused requests to change the tour itinerary, including moving the Tests back and playing the limited-overs matches first.

"Clearly it is not ideal preparation for us," Crocker said. "But the bottom line is some of our players have the chance to participate in the IPL and in order to be picked up we had to allow them a playing window. If we had truncated that it would have reduced their marketability.

"They can earn money in the IPL that we can't contemplate paying them. But it was important to us, and important to them, that they don't miss any internationals so we came up with an arrangement that they were all back in time to play in the first Test."

New Zealand have yet to name their squads for the tour of England. Matt Henry, Mitchell McClenaghan and Adam Milne, all of whom could expect to he involved in the five ODIs and sole T20, are the other New Zealand players at the IPL. NZC is reportedly hopeful that some could be released early by franchises if their services are not required.

The ECB rejected requests to alter the schedule due to the proximity of an Ashes series in the second part of the summer - in particular, it was keen for England not to play seven Tests in a row. New Zealand begin their tour with four-day matches against Somerset and Worcestershire before the Tests and the latter has been downgraded from first-class status to allow greater flexibility with the playing XI.

"The make-up of our team for the warm-up matches will be a combination of Test squad players, IPL players out early and players in England with other responsibilities, be that county cricket or league cricket," Crocker said.

Under McCullum, New Zealand have only lost two Test series out of nine - away to South Africa and England in 2013 - and five Test wins in 2014 marked their most successful year in the longest format.