Michael Vaughan has questioned centrally contracted England players prioritising franchise cricket over Test duty, and the player here in question is Jofra Archer, who would not be part of the first home Test against New Zealand, starting June 4.
As England prepare for their home summer season against New Zealand, Archer would be playing for his franchise, Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. The former England captain said the current arrangement between ECB and BCCI has created such a situation.
Archer has been left out of the first Test as ECB manages his return to red-ball cricket after a long injury layoff. Considering Archer’s success at the Lord’s and being England’s fast bowling spearhead, Vaughan argues that he should have ideally started the series.
Vaughan blasted ECB for creating such a situation where centrally contracted players are not prioritising Test cricket over franchise stint. “I’m sure he’ll be in the squad (for the second Test). It comes midway through June. I think we have a problem in English cricket at the moment because Jofra was obviously staying for the full IPL. There’s some contract that the ECB have done with the BCCI that’s allowing all our players to stay for the duration,” Vaughan was quoted saying on Cricbuzz.
The former skipper argued that England’s central contracts should carry more weight over any franchise demands.
“If that’s the case, I have a problem with England’s contracts because Jofra has been looked after by them for a few years now on a very handsome contract. So who holds the key to that? I believe the international contract outweighs any franchise,” said Vaughan.
Vaughan said he is not against any franchise-based leagues, but they can’t take precedence over a Test match and series involving centrally contracted players.
“Look, all these franchise leagues are fantastic. I love them for the players. But I do feel that if we start to put domestic leagues over and above a Test match, I think there’s a real problem now.”
He also said players are being put in a difficult situation when cricket boards schedule matches that clash with international commitments.
“England have got to make a decision because many have spoken out about it in the last week, rightfully so, because we feel that if you’re playing for England in your Test match, players should be back home playing for England. That’s what your central contract says you should be doing.”
Vaughan added that if the ECB wants its players to complete the IPL season, then the England schedule should be planned accordingly instead of creating a conflict.
“If there is an agreement that the ECB have done with the BCCI, well, I think you’ve got to start your Test summer somewhere a little bit later then.”
Vaughan argued that the team management should ideally be starting the series with their best bowler, which is Archer. “If I was Rob Key, the director of cricket, or Brendon McCullum, the coach, I would want my best bowler playing in that first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s. Not here.”
“We want to see our best players playing Test match cricket. Those staying, they’re continuing to play the longest format of the game. I want to see them playing for their country,” he added.
