Now Reading: Australia will manage IPL availability during busy Test schedule
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Australia will manage IPL availability during busy Test schedule
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has said the IPL remains part of the team's player management plan, even as the national side faces a packed schedule of 20 Tests and 14 white-ball…
The Story in Brief
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has said the IPL remains part of the team's player management plan, even as the national side faces a packed schedule of 20 Tests and 14 white-ball matches in the next 12 months. The calendar includes a five-Test tour of India, a potential World Test Championship final, and the Ashes in England. The 2027 IPL window is expected to fall between the India series and the WTC final.
McDonald told Cricinfo that exposing Australia's best players to the IPL has performance benefits but must be balanced against workload. He stressed that protecting the fitness of fast bowlers like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood is the priority. The team will make decisions in consultation with medical staff, McDonald said, adding that players want to play for Australia.
The Indian Opinion
The usual country-vs-franchise noise misses the real story. McDonald's plain admission that IPL is part of Australia's management plan – not an enemy of it – is inconvenient for those who like a simple villain. Fast bowlers get hurt bowling 20 Tests, not playing three hours of white-ball cricket. But the loudest voices forget that. The real test will be the 2025 IPL auction: how many of Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood actually stay home?
Sources (2): sports.ndtv.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
