Former England skipper Nasser Hussain has justified the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) decision to recall Ben Stokes and other players before the playoffs and the final of the Indian Premier League.
With a three-match One-Day International series against South Africa and the ICC Champions Trophy just around the corner, England denied the Rising Pune Supergiant all-rounder Ben Stokes along with Mumbai Indians opener Jos Buttler and Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Chris Woakes a chance to play the playoffs.
The cricket board recalled the trio for a training camp in Spain this week. However, the decision did not go down too well with many who felt that the players would have easily played the playoffs and even the final instead of training in Spain. The final is scheduled to be played on May 21, three days before the start of ODI series.
One of the experts who felt that the ECB was wrong to recall the players was former England skipper Kevin Pietersen. Blasting the board for the decision, he had tweeted:
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However, Hussain feels the ECB was totally right to call Stokes.
“The last time I looked Ben Stokes was an England contracted player, who was given a no objections certificate to go and play in the IPL,” Hussain was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
“The reason he got an IPL deal was because of how wonderful he has been for England – and when England tell you to go, you go and when they tell you to turn up to a training camp you turn up to a training camp to prepare for a tournament that we have underachieved in for 20-30 years,” he added.
Both Stokes and Buttler played crucial roles to help their respective teams reach the playoffs this season. Buttler, who opened the innings for Mumbai Indians, scored 272 runs in only 10 matches with a stunning strike-rate of over 153 while Rising Pune Supergiant all-rounder Stokes scored 316 runs in 12 matches in addition to taking 12 wickets.
Stokes’ absence, meanwhile, did not make much of a difference for the Supergiant, as they made it to their maiden IPL final with a comfortable 20-run victory over Mumbai Indians on Tuesday (May 16). On the other hand, Mumbai felt the absence of Buttler, as they lost the first qualifier but eventually made it to the final with a thumping six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday (May 19).
“I think England are right to have their players back. What difference would one innings in a final have made to Ben Stokes? He might have slogged it up in the air and got out the third ball.”
“Playing in Sunday’s IPL final would definitely have made a difference to Stokes’ pocket because he would have got paid a little bit more and that’s where eventually this discussion should take us,” said Hussain. “It’s not just a one-off scenario of him missing a final but it’s about a balance between domestic T20 leagues and the riches that are involved in that and international cricket.
Hussain further cited the example of an ongoing tussle between Cricket Australia and the players to explain that Stokes’ returning to national duty highlights the on-going tension in cricket surrounding player availability for club, franchise and country.
“This is part of what’s going on in Australia with their contracts; I know there are other issues involved, with women’s cricket and their domestic players, but some of the internationals are being asked to sign and say they won’t go off and play IPL and they are not happy with that,” the former batsman said.
“That’s where eventually cricket is going to come a cropper if it doesn’t address that issue. This is why the bigger picture is so important.
“Stokes may well be a little bit cross about missing the final but the bigger picture is the one you have to address – that’s when players are constantly being told that to be around for their country they are going to have to miss the IPL, your own domestic T20, the Caribbean Premier League.
“Then they and their agents do the sums and go ‘crikey, I’m missing out on $1.5m deals. Then you are going to get an issue – especially the later a player gets in his career,” added Hussain.