England's Ashes Heroes Snubbed in IPL Auction, World Cup Prospects at Stake

Strategic Insights -

The English cricket team's Ashes-winning squad will have a lot to prove in the upcoming World Cup, as most of them were overlooked in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. A total of eight members of the team, including Jimmy Anderson, Graeme Swann, and Chris Tremlett, were not deemed worthwhile purchases by any of the 10 IPL franchises. The majority of the squad will now have a break between the World Cup and the Sri Lanka series, potentially making them available for more Championship matches.

Key Takeaways:

  • Only two members of the Ashes-winning squad, Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood, were signed by IPL franchises, while Stuart Broad, Eoin Morgan, and two other members of the squad were also purchased.
  • Jimmy Anderson, Graeme Swann, Chris Tremlett, Jonathan Trott, Tim Bresnan, and Ian Bell were overlooked in the auction, as well as fringe players Ajmal Shahzad and Monty Panesar.
  • Collingwood stated that England players were less attractive in the auction because of their expected domestic commitments before the first Test of the 2011 summer.
  • England's coach Andy Flower is relieved that Anderson was not selected, citing concerns about injury risk and inconsistency with the management's decision to rest him for the opening matches of the forthcoming one-day series in Australia.
  • English players such as Hampshire's Michael Lumb and Dimi Mascarenhas, and Essex's Ryan ten Doeschate, were signed by IPL franchises on the second day of the auction.
  • The Australian Dan Christian was the most expensive signing on the second day of the auction, going for $900,000 to the Deccan Chargers.

Statistics:

  • 10 IPL franchises participated in the auction.
  • 2 members of the Ashes-winning squad - Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood - were signed by IPL franchises.
  • 6 members of the Ashes-winning squad, including Jimmy Anderson, Graeme Swann, and Chris Tremlett, were not purchased by any IPL franchise.
  • 2 other members of the squad, Stuart Broad and Eoin Morgan, were signed by IPL franchises.
  • The IPL auction will run from 8 April to 22 May.
  • Ryan ten Doeschate, the first Dutchman to play in the IPL, will be signed for $150,000.

Sources:

  • "IPL Auction: England's Ashes heroes snubbed" by Andy Wilson, theguardian.com
  • "England's World Cup Squad in Australia" by the Guardian, theguardian.com