England Cricket / Ralph Ellis / 28 January 2009 /

Allowing England players to sign up for the IPL bonanaza defeats the object of central contracts, says Ralph Ellis. But, while Andrew Flintoff grabs the cash with both hands, at least one England all-rounder is prioritising his international career.

Silly me. There I was, thinking that the Indian Premier League was a chance for a few top players to line their pockets with a right few quid in the couple of weeks they could have been taking off from the cricket treadmill. It turns out that it's actually a fantastic opportunity to develop their game and experience against some of the best in the world.

Or at least that's the rosy glow that England's managing director Hugh Morris is putting this morning on next week's auction for the dozen or so remaining spots in the IPL action. Yesterday ten of the 16 players currently on tour of the Caribbean were given "No Objection Certificates" enabling them to sign up for the bonanza. In total 13 of the 19 contracted players will be putting their names forward in the hope of being offered a place in one of the teams for the world's richest Twenty20 League.

Morris is insisting in today's papers: "The IPL is a fantastic opportunity for players and with the Twenty20 World Cup next summer it is an opportunity for them to play some more 20-over cricket. They will play with and against some of the best in the world in a high profile event."

Not since the heady days when Brian Johnston used to get endless lemon sponges delivered to the Test Match Special commentary box has cricket had such a glaring case of people wanting their cake and eating it. The England players are on big central contracts simply to protect their fitness and availability for the Test and One Day sides so squeezing in another flight round the world and more cricket is madness.

That's clearly the view of Stuart Broad, who to his credit has declined one of the IPL places which he could have taken. He's taken the view that the 11 week tour of the West Indies, two weeks' rest and some cricket in English conditions is the best way to get ready for a summer series against The West Indies followed by an attempt to recover The Ashes. But Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff are both grabbing the chance to earn around £500,000 each for three week's work in the Spring.

The damage that could do should be clear enough already to Flintoff. He was on the sidelines yesterday as England were completing their first tour match against St Kitts, and isn't likely to figure in the one that starts tomorrow either. England's PR people are insisting that scans have shown no serious damage to his strained left side, and that his trip to Jamaica to get it looked at was merely a precaution.

You'd believe that if you just look at a map and see that Jamaica is an inch or so away from St Kitts. In reality it's 1,000 miles and more than a two-hour flight - like going from London to Barcelona. Would you really make that long a trip for something trivial?

Australia are still [2.02] favourites to win the Ashes series, for all their problems after losing on home soil in the One Dayers against South Africa. You'd like to be brave and lay that, but you know Flintoff's fitness and form will be key to any chance England might have. Letting him play in the IPL is foolish because he needs less strain on his body at the moment and not more.

Five things you might not know about Stuart Broad

1. The son of former England opener Chris Broad, he says his most memorable wicket is still when he trapped his dad lbw in a school versus MCC game

2. He played hockey at county level until he was 16

3. Originally an opening bat himself, he only took up bowling as well by accident because he said: 'I couldn't just stand around in the field all day' - and took 30 first class wickets in ten matches

4. He had to stop wearing a Gucci necklace on the field because it kept hitting him on the chin when he bowled

5. He's 6ft 6ins with a 38 inch inside leg and has his suits hand made by a tailor in Manchester who also look after the United players

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: