The Surfer

Take the money and run?

Mike Selvey considers the position that young England international players find themselves in and when, if ever, it would be better (financially at least) for them to take the IPL money and run

Mike Selvey considers the position that young England international players find themselves in and when, if ever, it would be better (financially at least) for them to take the IPL money and run. He is interested in particular in the case of Ravi Bopara and writes in the Guardian:

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What concerns me, though, is how long a player in Bopara's situation, having sworn loyalty to the cause, would give it in reality were success not to come his way in a relatively short time span and with the increasing Lorelei lure of riches elsewhere. Would a Ryan Sidebottom, say, hang around for six years honing the skills that make him the cricketer he is today had there been an IPL, or indeed ICL ,back then to draw him in. It is a difficult one. Which do you think Ryan himself would choose: a million or two in the bank and recognition as a one-Test wonder; or the success he has now and the prospects that go with it?

England