Players will obey board - Gilchrist

Adam Gilchrist and Cricket Australia's chief executive James Sutherland have dismissed reports that there is a rift between the players and the board over the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Sun-Herald printed a letter in which Sutherland expressed his disappointment that 11 Australian-contracted players had not consulted Cricket Australia before signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would let them play in the IPL.

However, Gilchrist said there was no substance to suggestions that the players could choose to play in the IPL ahead of Tests or ODIs for their country. "No one will play [in the IPL] without consent," Gilchrist told AAP. "We're not trying to be rebels here. It's a new opportunity for cricketers and it's a very exciting one that I know Cricket Australia are endorsing and encouraging.

"We're not looking for a moment to bend the rules or our contracts with Cricket Australia. They are our employer, as simple as that. We'll abide by their rules at all times and we're not trying to bend those rules what so all. If the opportunity comes up to play IPL, which a lot of us have signed a MOU to allow us to do, (we will play) but that will always be secondary to international cricket and playing for our country."

Sutherland said although Cricket Australia supported the officially-sanctioned IPL, he would have preferred the players to consult Cricket Australia before signing the MOU. "There was an element of disappointment there that players and/or their managers didn't think to advise us of that," Sutherland said.

However, he echoed Gilchrist's sentiment that no player was likely to turn down the chance to play for his country. "I haven't seen any intent on the part of the Australian players that is going to compromise international cricket and their commitments to Cricket Australia," he said. "No-one has signed a binding contract, and they can't until they have clearance from Cricket Australia."

Because of Australia's hectic Test schedule next year and beyond, the chances for Australian players to take part in the IPL could be limited. Next year the tournament is likely to clash with Australia's Test tour to Pakistan and Sutherland said that would mean only a few fringe players might be free to join IPL teams.

"The workload and the timing of when the Indian Premier League is, in spite of perhaps players looking to sign contracts, it might be over the course of the next three years that Australian players are only able to play one of the next three years. In terms of that conflict, or players choosing to play in the Indian Premier League instead of their international commitments, it's just not going to happen."

Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey are among the stars believed to have signed MOUs. Sutherland said Cricket Australia had no problem with the players signing binding agreements provided the terms were satisfactory.