Mark Taylor, former Australia captain is surprised that “so many” of his Australian compatriots have stayed back in India to fulfill their Indian Premier League (IPL) commitments amid a raging Covid-19 pandemic, especially someone like Steve Smith who does not have “as big a contract as it probably should have been.”
Mark Taylor suggested that someone like Steve Smith, who was bought for INR 2.2 crores in the player auction, should have got more and was surprised that he even went to India for that in the first place.
Mark Taylor Surprises As Steve Smith Stays To Play IPL 2021 Although His Contract Isn’t As Big As It Probably Should Have Been
As many as 14 Australian players, along with some coaches and commentators, are currently in India to participate in the IPL, from which three players of the country had pulled out owing to the unprecedented Covid-19 surge.
“I was a little surprised that so many of the Australians went over there. If you’re Pat Cummins, he’s on something around [INR 15.5 crore], so that’s very hard to knock back for six weeks of playing cricket,” Taylor said during a discussion on ‘Channel 9’.
Royal Challengers Bangalore players Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson, both from Australia, joined a growing list of players who are opting out of the ongoing Indian Premier League.
“Steve Smith was an interesting one because his contract was about Australian dollars 350,000 [INR 2.2 crore with Delhi Capitals), which is not to be sneezed at but for a guy like Steve Smith, it’s not as big a contract as it probably should have been. I was surprised he decided to go.”
Mark Taylor also ridiculed another Australian payer, Mumbai Indians’ Chris Lynn, for suggesting that Cricket Australia should arrange a chartered flight to bring back players at the end of the tournament. Chris Lynn had said that since Cricket Australia takes a percentage of its players’ IPL earnings, it should work towards bringing them back. Mark Taylor called the comment “very rich”.
“I think Chris Lynn’s comments were very rich, absolutely,” Taylor said on Sports Sunday.
“The 10 percent Cricket Australia does receive from a player’s contract over there surely has got something to do with actually providing the cricketer with some coaching, education along the way to become an IPL-worthy cricketer.”
Despite, three cricketers Andrew Tye, Kane Richardson, and Adam Zampa returning home amid the raging crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India, 14 Australian cricketers, members of the coaching staff, and commentary teams, many Australian players are still in India doing their respective jobs.
Mark Taylor Thinks Australian Players And Coaches Are Hoping They’ll Get Home As Soon As Possible Once IPL 2021 Is Over
Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, and Kane Richardson returned home from the IPL as India’s fresh Covid-19 cases hit record highs but Mark Taylor said most of the Australian players and coaches seemed comfortable at this point.
“[Ricky] Ponting is over there, [David] Warner, Brett Lee there. Good mates of mine. Brad Haddin, Trevor Bayliss are coaching over there. I haven’t heard much from them apart from that they’re there to see [out] the end of the tournament,” Taylor said.
“A lot of the players have actually said they feel comfortable in the bubble they’re in; but what they would like once the tournament’s over? I think the Australian players and coaches are hoping that they’ll get home ASAP. That is what they’re after at this stage.”
The IPL ends on May 30. Australian cricketers may face trouble getting back home and could be left stranded somewhere after their media reported that the Australian government was mulling hefty fine and jail term for those returning from India, which is reeling under an unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases.