Last Updated on 9 months ago by Charbel Coorey
England chief selector Ed Smith says he supports the idea of some rest time for the IPL players ahead of other assignments | England chief selector supports rest time for the IPL players
England chief selector Ed Smith has shown concern over the mental health of some of the country’s key players engaged in prolonged tournaments and back-to-back international assignments. Smith defended the idea of allowing some off time for Jofra Archer, Sam Curran and Ben Stokes, who all played in IPL 2020 and are expected to join South Africa tour.
It is only in recent times that ECB has encouraged their players to play for the franchise T20 games, but as the IPL got delayed due to the pandemic it now clashing with the further international games. “The ECB’s position for a number of years now has been to permit players to play in the IPL. And that has coincided with England’s very good form in white ball cricket, their World Cup success and also now their very strong T20 side. It’s been excellent to see players like Sam Curran do so well at the IPL and to really have those development opportunities”, said Smith.
Also, the bubble restrictions and quarantine period set by each board along with their respective governing body makes it all the more difficult for the estimate player’s availbility. “It’s going to have to be a case by case situation where we as selectors, but also players, constantly evaluate what’s in the players’ interests but also what’s in England’s interest. We’re very sensible about player workloads. To me, that’s a very important conversation. The ECB’s position has been to allow players to play in the IPL and we are going to take opportunities as selectors for England to rest one or two players when we think it’s a good opportunity to do so”, says Smith according to the report in Cricbuzz.
Smith also recommended to expand Engalnd’s pool of players which will give the management options to decide on playing XI as well as give the individual cricketer some time to rest and refresh. “We need to almost reconsider how we frame the concept of rest. What we are really thinking about here is not only a question of time in cricket and time out of cricket. But also what the circumstances of a player’s life are when they are playing. COVID protocols, which determine how a player can live his life, vary enormously, not only between competitions and between tours but within competitions. Really, what we are trying to work out is how draining and debilitating the circumstances are for that individual”, Smith said.
Even regarding the way the players rest is a matter of debate, as the board can’t have control over the family time they get, the places they visit during the ongoing pandemic and the environment they surrounded with.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
