Buttler & Friends, IPL & Test Cricket

It seems that, for now at least, Jonny Bairstow is Englands No1 keeper - such that the ECB have persuaded Jos Buttler to apply to play in the IPL for the entire season. It is credit to Buttler that he wanted to try and get the test spot back - but with Strauss's insistence that limited overs cricket get the same attention as the longer form we should expect to see more of this.

Of course just entering the auction is no guarantee of securing a contract. While there a three teams named to be interested - there are plenty of fans and pundits in India who feel any English player is a waste of money, citing their failings against spin. Buttler's exploits on the international stage will surely help and his success in the limited overs matches in the UAE should not be overlooked.

But who may join him in the auction, and indeed will the ECB persuade any other players to effectively forego Test ambitions?

Eoin Morgan has had limited success in IPL so far, but is already effectively a Limited Overs player only. If he does not have a current contract surely someone will pick him up.
Alex Hales - much will depend on how he goes in the next two tests. Should he nail down the openers berth then IPL will be avoided. However should that not happen there is a possibility that, having been released from his current contract, Hales will wish to enter the auction again.
Adil Rashid has been, in the words of lead commentator Damien Fleming, "the player of the BBL". After 7 (of 8) pool matches his Adelaide Strikers team sit top of the table and Dilly is the leading wicket taker (14 wickets with an RPO of 6.3). He has been awarded man of the match at least 3 times so far. His test prospects are not good for the Summer as England are unlikely to play two spinners, so they could try and persuade the Yorkshire man to enter the auction and be available for the full season. This would mean missing half the CC matches and really consign Rashid to only ever being a limited overs player.
David Willey cited the intention of becoming a better player in first class cricket as the main reason for moving from Northants. England though are unlikley to ever view him as more than a limited overs specialist so could be keen for him to play in the IPL. His form in the BBL has been good both with ball and bat. Two MotM awards testament to this. One complicating factor is that ECB promised the counties to limity how many players the denude them of for enterprises like the IPL, so it may be a case of Willey or Dilly but not both.
Jason Roy is another young man with ambitions to play at the highest level - but do England see a test player in him? They certainly see him as a fixture in the limited overs sides and would probably be keen on the Surrey man gaining wider experience.


Who else?


(obviously Pietersen will be looking for a new contract having been released from his old one, but is not in contention for the England team)

Jason Roy is a particularly interesting one in this discussion and it may ignite the question of county or country.

England certainly seem keen on Roy in the limited overs formats but I believe he's some way from the Test team or even squad.

At a Surrey members' forum in January last year, Alec Stewart stated that Roy's Surrey contract prohibited him from playing in the IPL. According to Stewart, the reasoning for this was that both the player and his club wanted him to improve in the longer format of the game. I'm sure that is correct (Stewart is fundamentally a decent a decent and honest bloke) but it is fair to point out that it also helped Surrey to have Roy fully available from the start of the 2015 season.

Since around the end of the last season, Roy has signed a new contract with Surrey. I don't know what that permits or prohibits about the IPL. It would most likely aid England's ODI ambitions if Roy is able to and did play in that tournament this year and I'm sure Strauss would be keen on that. However, some closer to the Oval would prefer to have him playing 4 day cricket from early April and seeing where that might ultimately lead.

I guess it is easy for ECB with Buttler and Morgan as they are centrally contracted, while the others are on incremental contracts. Not sure how much say ECB have with players on the "lesser" contract.

While BBL has been hugely beneficial for Rashid (just watching him play with a smile on his face is an absolute pleasure). In yesterdays match his second ball was slog swept for 6, but he came back with aplomb bowling a full set of variations and the remaining 22 deliveries wet for just 9 runs. However I am fully aware that last season his bowling took a step backwards due to inactivity. Bowlers, especially slow bowlers, need overs under their belts and being a spectator in the Caribbean, then for much of the summer, for England he was available for only a handful of first class matches.

Playing IPL and not playing test cricket aren't exclusive things imo

If, as planned, Buttler plays the entire IPL season, he would not be available for any first class matches for Lancashire before the series against Pakistan starts on 14th July (he would be available for 3rd test v Sri Lanka however).

Hales

Plans in the pipeline for Roy to play Tests in 2016. I wonder if England will plan to drop Hales and have Roy at the top of the order even though he is not an opener in f/c cricket. We will see how he does in the ODIs where he has a better record than Hales.

Ali put his name down but Strauss wants his workload managed so no IPL for him.

Out of the players mentioned, I would expect Buttler and Rashid to be bought if made available, I doubt the likes of Willey would interest IPL franchises. I seem to remember quite a few English players in the past going unsold - I think they need that something extra to attract interest.

What about Luke Wright? Doubtful he has Test ambitions but might have ambitions to get back into the T20 side

Wright has done pretty well in the BB. With all pool games over he was the leading run scorer for his side, Melbourne Stars, and 7th overall. That he opens helps of course, but he did get one of only 4 centuries scored. He would need to oust one of roy or Hales from the T20 side, so unlikely I guess.