Former England captain Michael Vaughan has defended the decision of English players to skip the latter stages of the Indian Premier League (IPL), arguing that national team commitments should take precedence. This comes after the players involved, including Jos Buttler, Will Jacks, and Phil Salt, returned home to prepare for an upcoming T20I series against Pakistan ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Jos Buttler, the skipper of the Rajasthan Royals (RR), and his England teammates have departed the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 to join their national team for the upcoming ICC Twenty20 World Cup. This departure is a significant loss for RR, which is currently in playoff contention. Buttler has played a pivotal role in RR’s success this season, scoring two centuries and amassing 359 runs in 11 games. His absence will be a challenge for the franchise as they seek to secure a playoff spot.
James Anderson, England’s legendary fast bowler, has announced his retirement from Test cricket after an illustrious 21-year career. Widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time, Anderson holds the record for the most Test wickets among pace bowlers with 700 dismissals. Throughout his tenure, he has been a cornerstone of England’s bowling attack, showcasing exceptional skill and longevity. Anderson’s retirement marks the end of an era for Test cricket, and he will undoubtedly be remembered as a true icon of the sport.
English players will not participate in the playoffs of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) due to their commitments to the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the decision on Tuesday, April 30th, confirming that the same 15-member squad selected for the World Cup will also play in a four-match T20I series against Pakistan starting on May 22nd. Eight players across five IPL franchises will be affected by the withdrawal, including Rajasthan Royals’ opening batter Jos Buttler, who has been a key contributor for the team with 319 runs and two match-winning centuries. Other teams that will miss out on English players include Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Chennai Super Kings.
Ben Duckett believes his unique skillset could provide a valuable complement to England’s power-hitting lineup as they defend their T20 World Cup title in June. While Duckett may not possess the brute force of some of his teammates, he excels at field manipulation and finding gaps, which can be equally effective in the T20 format. With the absence of Ben Stokes and Dawid Malan, Duckett could earn a place in England’s 15-strong squad for the tournament.
