Barmy Army or Bollywood Bucks? England Expect Stars to Ditch IPL for Windies ODIs
England expects its top IPL players, including Jos Buttler and Will Jacks, to prioritise the West Indies ODI series over the rescheduled IPL playoffs. But money, mates, and mayhem could test their loyalties.
Country vs Cash: England Wants Its Cricketers Home
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is banking on patriotism over paycheques as it gears up to host the West Indies in an ODI series starting May 29 — awkwardly timed to overlap with the IPL playoffs.
Here’s the spicy bit: 10 England players were in the IPL before it hit pause. Now, as the Indian Premier League powers back up post-reschedule, England expects its top guns to swap Bollywood lights for Birmingham drizzle.
Who’s Likely to Show Up for England?
| Player | IPL Status | ODI Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jofra Archer | Team eliminated | Definitely available | Back from injury, being eased into Tests |
| Jamie Overton | Team eliminated | Definitely available | Fast bowler ready for action |
| Will Jacks | Team in playoffs race | Expected to prioritise England | England hopeful he’ll choose country |
| Jacob Bethell | Team in playoffs race | England expect him back | Rising star |
| Jos Buttler | Playoffs likely | Decision pending | Captain of white-ball team |
Meanwhile, Phil Salt is only named in the T20 squad, and Liam Livingstone — who captained England in November — has been completely ghosted from both squads. Ouch.
The Rulebook Dilemma
Here’s where it gets stickier than a week-old bat grip:
- BCCI’s Rule (as of Sept 2023): Any overseas player who voluntarily pulls out of the IPL for non-medical reasons is banned for two years.
- ECB’s Dilemma: The ODI series overlaps with IPL finals (June 3) but was scheduled before the IPL’s reschedule due to security issues.
The ECB claims No Objection Certificates (NOCs) were issued based on the original IPL dates. Now? All bets are off and contracts may need a rethink.
Wise Words from the Players’ Camp
Tom Moffat, the boss of the World Cricketers’ Association, said:
“Players shouldn’t be punished. They’re stuck in the middle of unclear rules, safety concerns and contracts.”
He’s basically saying: give the lads a break — this isn’t just a game of bat and ball, it’s a logistical nightmare wrapped in red tape.
International Priorities: England vs Everyone Else
The scheduling clash doesn’t just affect England:
- South Africa expects its 8 IPL players to report for the World Test Championship Final build-up by May 31.
- Australia is going with a more laid-back “we’ll support individual decisions” vibe — very on brand.
That WTC final kicks off at Lord’s on June 11, so any IPL hangovers better be gone by then.
What’s the Bigger Picture?
The ODI series against the Windies marks a new white-ball chapter:
- Brendon McCullum as head coach of limited-overs squads
- Harry Brook as new white-ball captain
- First England white-ball series on home soil in 2024
If half the squad’s still sunbathing in Mumbai, that launch is gonna feel a bit flat.
Wrap-up With a Dash of Aussie Humour
Look, we all love a good IPL payday — who wouldn’t want to earn a small nation’s GDP in six weeks for smashing sixes?
But when England rings the bell for national duty, the ECB’s hoping the blokes drop their Mumbai flat keys and hop on the next Heathrow-bound flight.
As they say in Yorkshire: “You can’t buy pride in a country shirt… but you can get dropped if you miss the coach.”
