Michael Vaughan offers 'simple solution' to conclude IPL 2021 and India-England Test series in the English summer

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly requested the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to prepone the five-match Test series between India and England scheduled from 4th August by a week in order to create a completion window for the abruptly suspended 14th edition of IPL.

Notably, the IPL this year was suspended in the wake of rising Covid-19 cases inside the bio-secure environment created for the league. With only 29 out of the scheduled 60 fixtures being completed, the BCCI has been in constant contemplation over arrangements to conclude the curtailed event.

India’s UK tour gets underway from June 18 at the Rose Bowl, Southampton, where they will play New Zealand in the inaugural World Test Championship final. As it currently stands, the subsequent series between the India and England gets underway from 4th August at Trent Bridge, followed by fixtures at Lord’s, Headingley, The Oval, and Old Trafford, running until 14th September.

The ECB will face some serious rescheduling nightmare should they honour BCCIs’ request as the venue of the Test series also happen to be the venues for the inaugural edition of The Hundred, which is supposed to be played between July 21 to August 21. Moreover, the move will also affect England players’ participation in the tournament. That is not all as the rescheduling will further mess the ticket sales, as Tests in England are sold out as quickly as shorter formats in India.

Such a massive alteration in the normal times would have been far easier to accommodate, but with the multiple Covid-19 enforced regulations, quarantine protocols, and facility bookings made as per earlier plans in place, the ECB is highly likely to find itself in a puddle of logistical troubles too, if any of the Test(s) is rescheduled.

Michael Vaughan’s solution

As the board grapples and scratches head over carrying things out, Michael Vaughan has a “simple solution”. The former skipper reckons the Trent Bridge Test should be brought forward by a week by the ECB and in return, the BCCI should allow its fringe players to participate in the Hundred.

“Simple solution .. Play the First Indian Test a week earlier .. No England Test players would then potentially play the 100 so Fringe Indian Test players replace them .. Then the IPL can finish .. Good deal around all around ..” Vaughan tweeted.

It remains to be seen how both the boards arrive at a solution for the problem. The BCCI, however, remains confident of conducting multiple double-headers to complete the remaining 31 matches provided it gets a three-week window.

Simple solution .. Play the First Indian Test a week earlier .. No England Test players would then potentially play the 100 so Fringe Indian Test players replace them .. Then the IPL can finish .. Good deal all round .. #ENGvIND

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) May 20, 2021