England pacer Mark Wood will no longer be a part of the IPL 2021 auction as he decided to withdraw from the extravagant T20 league this season just one day before the auction is scheduled in Chennai on 18th February.
On the eve of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 auction, one of the most sought-after English players, Mark Wood, who played a solitary match for CSK, decided to withdraw his name from the T20 league.
Mark Wood’s Decision To Withdraw Name From IPL 2021 Auction Came Amidst Criticism Of England’s Rotation Policy
Mark Wood had earlier registered himself for the highest base price of INR 2 crore and was among the 292 players who were finally shortlisted by the 8 franchises for the mini-auction in Chennai. He will now no longer be in the auction pool after withdrawing due to spending time with family.
The decision came amidst the criticism of England’s tricky rotation policy in international cricket. A number of English players have been rotated over the course of the two Tests against India in Chennai so far.
Moeen Ali, England’s finest performer in the 2nd Test at Chepauk where he bagged 8 scalps and top-scored in 2nd innings of 2nd Test, has been sent home as part of the same rotation policy while pacer Mark Wood now looks set to feature in the third Test in Ahmedabad alongside batsman Jonny Bairstow. The England pacer had played a solitary game in IPL 2018 for Chennai Super Kings where he went wicketless.
England named a 17-men squad for the third Test- a day-night affair at Ahmedabad against India, after suffering defeat in the 2nd Test. England continued with their rotation policy resting key players as spin-bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali has been rested while the duo of Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood, both of whom were unavailable for the first two Tests in Chennai, has made a return to the squad.
All-rounder Sam Curran didn’t travel to India alongside Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood this week as scheduled and he will not be available for selection in the third Test in Ahmedabad from February 24.
Mark Wood Decided To Pull Out Of IPL 2021 To Spend More Time With Family
As per a report in Sportstar, the reason behind his decision to pull out of the league at the last minute is lack of family time. Since the English pacer is now a part of the series against India, he could be in the country for several months if one of the 8 franchises picks him up at the auction.
Since he wants to spend more time with his family, he decided to opt-out of the auction event and not extend his stay beyond the international assignment he has come in for.
The pacer has represented England in 18 Tests, 53 ODIs, and 11 T20Is so far and had only joined the squad after the 2nd Test. He has played only one match in the T20 league so far and it came for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2018 as per the Indian Premier League records.
Several English players are left in the IPL 14 auction pool, including the likes of Alex Hales, Moeen Ali, and Jason Roy. Another 8 English players were retained by IPL franchises including Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer.
The retained England Cricketers for IPL 2021 are Jofra Archer (RR), Ben Stokes (RR), Jos Buttler (RR), Eoin Morgan (KKR), Chris Jordan (KXIP), Sam Curran (KXIP), Jonny Bairstow (SRH), Chris Woakes (DC).
With his last-minute withdrawal, a total of 291 players will go under the hammer in Chennai of which 164 will be Indians and 124 will overseas players while three players will be from Associate nations.