ECB needs to allow player to participate in the IPL to improve says David Lloyd

ECB needs to allow player to participate in the IPL to improve says David Lloyd: England has only one world cup trophy in its cabinet to exhibit i.e. form the World T20 they won in 2010. So it is safe to call it the format they managed to master, but since that win five years ago, the team has fared poorly in not only T20s but ODIs as well. Though they are one of the better test teams in the world, other teams have proved to be too good for them in limited over’s cricket. Former England cricketer David Lloyd seems to have a solution which can help them improve. Lloyd said allowing players to participate in the IPL is the best way for England to gain authority in T20 format.

David Lloyd was quoted by the iplt20.com saying, “Our biggest problem is that we are busy playing elsewhere while the IPL is on. The tournament is in full flow here and the England team is in the West Indies,”

“We have to find a solution to this situation. Sit all the concerned parties in one room and work out a system that is beneficial to everybody involved. If we can have a five-week window for the IPL, that would help.

He added, “But our domestic season spans from April to September and for that window to be created, the domestic season would have to be halved, which is not going to happen,”

The former England cricketer seems to be of a firm opinion that if they are to do better in T20s the England Board will have to make way for its players to participate in the biggest 20 over’s tournament in the world. And if it requires they should also be willing to compromise on a few things for the benefit of the players.

“You have to find a compromise. I know that the ECB is looking to revamp the structure in 2016. Our new chief executive and chairman will be sitting down with commercial partners and television companies to discuss how we can maximize global events. There should be a will within the governing bodies to work out a way that benefits the game and the players,” he said.

Does England’s approach towards the T20 format needs a change over? He said, “Twenty20 is a fantastic concept. We have not got there yet in the United Kingdom. We do (play) Twenty20 cricket but it is not concentrated into a fine package. It drags on for three months and thus loses its impact. Another thing is that watching cricket in the UK is quite expensive.

“I know the cost of living is lower in India but still a minimum of 200 rupees for a ticket is quite affordable. You get to see the best players in the world for three hours for that amount. I think it is good,” he further added.

In the current edition the IPL, only two English cricketers are a part of the league, Eoin Morgan and all-rounder Ravi Bopara both of whom are playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. So are their players good enough to be a part of the Indian domestic league? David Lloyd said, “First, they have to be good enough to get into a franchise. We only have maybe six cricketers who the franchises would be interested in. I am getting a bit technical here but a major reason why we lag behind in the shorter formats of cricket is because we have not grasped bat speed,”

“Going back to the World Cup and here in the IPL, you watch guys like Brendon McCullum and AB de Villiers and you see their bat speed is tremendous. Our batsmen have not grasped it. For that, we need our young players to experience the IPL, but again they have to be good enough,” he said.