Michael Clarke urges Aussies to reconsider playing in the cash rich IPL

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has suggested his players to reconsider playing in the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) if it places them at the risk of missing matches for Australia. Clarke who led Australia to their 5th World Cup title in 2015 made this call ahead of the ODI series opener of the Chappell-Hadlee series between Australia and New Zealand to be played at the SCG on Sunday.

The Australian team was recently ousted 0-5 in their previous ODI series against the Proteas has included both Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood after the duo was rested during their 0-5 battering at the hands of South Africa.

Though it was learnt that the move of resting Starc and Hazlewood was made in their best interest it certainly lifted the morale of the Proteas, captain Steve Smith was also sent back home mid-way through the series in Sri Lanka and the Proteas admitted that their absence worked totally in their favour during the recently concluded Test series which South Africa won 2-1.

“Cricket Australia allow every contracted player to have six weeks off a year,’’ Clarke said. “This falls during the IPL time so it’s an individual player’s choice to go and play IPL. And if you choose your six-week holiday to play IPL, then that’s your choice.

“There’s positives, the cash, that comes with that, but there’s negatives, the fatigue and lack of rest. You’ve got to sum up what’s best for you.”

Clarke believes that the selectors must always field the best available XI and should rest Hazlewood and Starc only if Australia managed to get an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3-match rubber.

“It didn’t matter who I played against, representing Australia was the pinnacle and every game was important, so I think the Australian team needs the whole squad at full strength, there’s no doubt about it, in all three formats,” Clarke said.

“I think once you’ve won the series, if Australia manages to go 2-0 up in this one-day series then for the third one-dayer I think there’s an opportunity to rest their two fast bowlers.

The Chappell-Hadlee series has been sandwiched between Test series against South Africa and Pakistan followed by an ODI series against Pakistan and a short ODI tour to New Zealand. The Aussies will finally round up their long and hectic summer by playing a T20 series against Sri Lanka.

They will then fly to India to play a four-match Test series over February and March followed by the IPL in April and May. Mitchell Starc, David Warner and Steve Smith were all part of the IPL earlier this year.