Jonny Bairstow, England wicketkeeper-batsman admitted that it is indeed difficult for him and other players to turn down the big money offered for playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL)
England batsman Jonny Bairstow believes the IPL helps players to perform better in all three formats of the game and it’s also difficult to turn down the big money offered by the Indian Premier League.
Jonny Bairstow: One Can’t Tell White Ball Format Players Not To Go To Play IPL
Despite several England players featuring in the Indian Premier League 2021, there are discussions going around in the English media that some of them have skipped the tournament or even been pulled out by the ECB amidst a packed calendar. England pacer Mark Wood decided to withdraw from IPL 2021 since he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Jonny Bairstow was rested for England’s first two Tests against India but has arrived in time for the day-night 3rd Test in Ahmedabad.
England’s squad was named for the third and fourth Test after the result of the second Test, and it was revealed that Moeen Ali will head back home as a part of ECB’s rotation policy.
“Look, I think it is part and parcel of the game. There are guys who have white-ball contracts and red-call contracts and then there are those who have both. I think guys who have white-ball format will want to go to the IPL and you cannot tell them don’t go. When it comes to rest, if you are asking people to be away from home from Jan 2-March 29 and to be in bubbles, at some point, people are going to need rest, that’s where the coaching staff has decided to give players rest,” Bairstow said during a virtual press conference on Thursday.
The inclusion of Jonny Bairstow to the England line-up will add potency to the England top-order, which has been found wanting against Indian spinners in three out of the last four innings.
Jonny Bairstow: Hard For Anybody To Turn Down The Money Offered In IPL And Feels Lucky To Be Playing All 3 Formats
England was thumped by a whopping 317 runs in the second Test and the Joe Root-led unit will be looking to bounce back in the third Test at Ahmedabad. England won the 1st Test by 227 runs after India failed to score 420 on the last day at the same venue and Ahmedabad, the venue for the next 2 Tests will not be as spin-friendly as Chennai.
“Mentally, we have to stay as fresh as we can. We have been staying in hotels and we cannot leave, it is taxing and it is about staying fresh to produce the best on the pitch. When you are talking about the kind of money the likes of Kyle Jamieson, Chris Morris have got, it is hard to turn it down, it can be hard for anybody to turn it down.
“I do not believe there are any priorities, if you look at our away record, we have won six of our last seven Tests away from home, these results do not come by prioritizing one format of the game,” Bairstow added.
“I do not know the dates of the IPL playoffs and I do not know the dates of New Zealand Test matches, so cannot say anything at this moment. I am lucky enough to be playing all three formats of the game,” Bairstow replied when was asked whether he would leave IPL playoffs for the New Zealand Tests.
In the IPL players’ auction, Chris Morris became the most expensive foreign player in the history of the IPL as he bought for Rs 16.25 crore by Rajasthan Royals. New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 15 crore.
England wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow was a new entrant to the IPL who was bought for Rs. 1.5 crore by the SRH team management for the 2019 season. He had a brilliant debut IPL season scoring 445 runs that included a century while opening the batting with David Warner. He has scored 790 runs in 21 IPL games in 2019 and 2020 averaging a staggering 41.57 with a strike rate of 142.34 with 1 ton and 5 fifties.