Published 16:31 IST, February 19th 2021
Michael Vaughan urges England players to give weightage to NZ Tests over IPL knockouts
Michael Vaughan has urged the England players to give more weightage to the Test series against New Zealand in June rather than focusing on IPL 2021 knockouts
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Former English skipper Michael Vaughan has urged the England players to give prime importance to Test cricket over IPL. As per reports, England players might miss the two-match Test series against New Zealand in June for participating in IPL knockouts.
The two Test matches between hosts England and New Zealand will be played between June 2 and 14. According to reports, New Zealand Cricket is planning to make the national team reach England in the middle of May. On the other hand, even England’s Test hopefuls will be getting inside their bio-bubble weeks prior to the commencement of the series.
'They shouldn't be allowed': Michael Vaughan
Taking to the micro-blogging site, Vaughan wrote he has always said that England players should be able to play the IPL and he loves what it brings for them. However, they shouldn’t be allowed to stay and play in the finals if picked for the 1st Test against New Zealand at Lord's.
Have always said England players should be able to play the IPL .. I love what it brings for them .. but they shouldn’t be allowed to stay & play in the Finals if picked for the 1st Test v NZ at Lords .. Surely TEST cricket against one of the best comes first ??
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 18, 2021
The 2005 Ashes-winning skipper's tweet evoked mixed reactions from the passionate cricket fans. Here's what they had to say.
thats your boards problem , aint it ???
— Poojith (@Poojith91227500) February 18, 2021
Test cricket is the ultimate.
— Sai Subramaniam (@saisudar74259) February 18, 2021
Why do schedule the test matches during the IPL?
— vinoth (@Vinoth66666) February 18, 2021
They should be able to do whatever they want.
— LucyCrue198 (@crue198) February 18, 2021
Only if England qualifies for final?
— Kamlesh (@KamleshBharti12) February 18, 2021
you think England are qualifying for the WTC?
— Patil (@patil_FTW) February 18, 2021
The Indian Premier League 2021 (IPL 2021) is set to commence sometime in April this year, i.e. immediately after the conclusion of the ongoing home all-format bilateral series against England. While the tournament will conclude sometime in June, its finishing stages are set to collide with New Zealand’s imminent Test tour to England. The Black Caps are slated to tour England two weeks in advance before their Test series, in order to adhere to their local quarantine norms.
Coming back to the India-England series, currently, the four-match Test series is leveled at 1-1. After suffering a humiliating 227-run loss in the series opener at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai last week, a determined Indian team staged a remarkable comeback in the second Test match at the same venue to hand a mammoth 317-run defeat to the visitors.
The Men In Blue will now be hoping to win the next two Tests and thereby, earn the right to face New Zealand in the ICC World Test Championship final that will be contested from June 18-22 at the 'Mecca of Cricket' Lord's.
Meanwhile, the third Test match will be played under lights with the pink-ball. It will be contested at the newly renovated Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad between February 24-28.
16:31 IST, February 19th 2021