Twenty20 lure could prompt early retirements

Nearly half of the players contracted by Cricket Australia and the six states would consider early retirement to play in an Indian Twenty20 league, according to a survey conducted by the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA). The results, published in the Age, also showed major disillusionment among the players over the ICC's governance of the game.

Asked if they would consider early retirement from international cricket to play in either the Indian Premier League or the Indian Cricket League, 47% of Cricket Australia-contracted players said "yes", along with 49% of players with state deals. Paul Marsh, the ACA chief executive, said the results were a clear indication that the ICC must include the IPL in the Future Tours Programme.

"Whilst it is surprising that players would want to quit international cricket to play in a lesser competition, the players' responses highlight how much the pressure, difficulties of so much time away from families and the restrictions and obligations associated with being an international cricketer can affect their desire to continue playing international cricket for a long period of time," Marsh wrote in the study.

"Cricket needs to carve a window out of the Future Tours Programme for IPL, ICL or any other Twenty20 event that emerges, so that players won't be lost to international cricket. Cricket has the choice as to whether it competes or co-exists with these leagues and if it chooses to compete, it may well lose many of its players."

However, James Sutherland, the chief executive of Cricket Australia, said a window in the schedule was not necessarily the answer, particularly if it was held in April and May, during which West Indies traditionally play home matches. "These are major issues for everyone to consider before they jump at a window," Sutherland said.

"You can see that the IPL and ICL provide opportunities for players to consider early retirement if they're able to time their contracts in a such a way but that option is already available to them through county cricket. I think it's a good thing that players have an opportunity to make additional money over a shorter period of time."

During the past season Jimmy Maher, Michael Kasprowicz and Matthew Elliott all quite state cricket and took up ICL deals, as did the Cricket Australia-contracted Jason Gillespie. Adam Gilchrist retired from international cricket but intends to play on in the IPL. Of the players with national deals, 75% said the ICL was good for the game, despite its lack of official status with the ICC.

The survey also showed 80% of Cricket Australia players condemned the ICC's governance of the game. Nearly two-thirds thought the ICC had set a dangerous precedent when it stood down the umpire Steve Bucknor ahead of the Perth Test against India following criticism over his decisions in the previous match in Sydney.