Last updated: 16th November 2008
Collingwood: unsure on IPL stint
You have to get the balance right between giving the players the opportunity to play in the IPL, but also the balance has to be right with regards to Test cricket.
Paul Collingwood
Quotes of the week
Paul Collingwood confirmed England's players have not yet signed their central contracts, but insists there is nothing sinister about the situation.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) failed to reach a deal with their Indian counterparts about a reciprocal agreement for the release of players for the Indian Premier League (IPL) and English Premier League Twenty20 competitions.
Collingwood said the fact that the central contracts remain unsigned has nothing to do with a desire among England's players to take up lucrative IPL assignments.
"We didn't sign them until January last year," Collingwood told Sky Sports News.
"I'm not too sure why we haven't signed them this time around. That's obviously something the PCA (Professional Cricketers' Association) deal with, along with the ECB.
"It's certainly not because we're waiting around to see what's happening with the IPL."
There is potential for an IPL window as England finish their tour of West Indies on April 3, seven days before the start of the second edition of the seven-week long event.
Sri Lanka are due in England for two Tests in May but that visit is in doubt due to their own players' IPL commitments.
"We still don't know who we are playing in Test cricket at the start of next summer - there are still a lot of grey areas," added Collingwood.
"But I'm sure, when the contracts are ready to be signed, we'll get straight in there and sign them.
"You have to get the balance right between giving the players the opportunity to play in the IPL, but also the balance has to be right with regards to Test cricket.
"From a players' point of view you want to playing for England and wearing the Three Lions, if Test cricket is there you want to be prepared for it.
"We have a massive year coming up, but if there is a window that would be great because there are huge benefits."
Collingwood, likely to be one of the England's most in-demand players from the IPL franchises, has not received any offers to play in the league.
"I haven't had any approaches - that's something that the agents tend to look after," said the Durham all-rounder.
| Fixture |
|---|
| Saturday 4th July |
| Test Match First Test Match |
| Sri Lanka vs Pakistan |
| Tour Match Four Day Match |
| England Lions vs Australia |
| Varsity Match 1 Day Annual Varsity Match |
| Oxford UCCE vs Cambridge UCCE |
| Sunday 5th July |
| Friends Provident Friends Provident Semi Final |
| Lancashire vs Hampshire |
| Sussex vs Gloucestershire |
| One Day Int Fourth Match |
| West Indies vs India |
| Women's ODI 4th Match |
| England Women vs Australia Women |
| Monday 6th July |
| U-19 Test Series 1st Match |
| England Under 19 vs Bangladesh Under 19 |
| Tuesday 7th July |
| County Championship - Div 1 |
| Warwickshire vs Sussex |
| County Championship - Div 2 |
| Northamptonshire vs Derbyshire |
| Result |
|---|
| Friday 3rd July |
| County Championship - Division One |
| Somerset vs Yorkshire Somerset won by 4 wickets. |
| Nottinghamshire vs Lancashire Match Drawn |
| Durham vs Worcestershire Durham won by 5 wickets. |
| County Championship - Division Two |
| Middlesex vs Surrey Match Drawn |
| Kent vs Gloucestershire Kent won by 76 runs. |
| Derbyshire vs Leicestershire Match Drawn |
| Friendly Match |
| Warwickshire vs England Match Drawn |
| One Day International Series |
| West Indies vs India India won by 6 wickets. (Revised target - Duckworth-Lewis system) |
| Women's One Day International Series |
| England Women vs Australia Women England Women won by 2 wickets. |
| Tuesday 30th June |
| Women's One Day International Series |
| England Women vs Australia Women England Women won by 55 runs. |
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Matt Prior's catching will be reliable in the Ashes, says Alec Stewart, as his style is less contrived now.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck an unbeaten 46 from 32 balls to lead his side to a six-wicket victory in the third ODI.
Marcus North made an unbeaten century as Australia moved to 275 for four at the close of day three.
Ravi Bopara notched yet another century as England completed their Ashes preparations with a rather tame draw against Warwickshire.
Steve Harmison has played down his domination of Phil Hughes in the Australians' warm-up match against the England Lions.
Marcus North is hoping his century against England Lions on Friday has earned him a place in the line-up for the first Ashes Test.
Comments (2)
Sat T says...
Why offer ANY England players IPL positions?? They were so quick to talk down about it before it started. Now that they flopped the Stanford T20 and came home with nothing they are looking to the IPL. ECB prevented players from joining the IPL last year so what is the difference this year? BCCI should just settle it for them and say "we dont want your players anyway".
Posted 14:40 17th November 2008
Sandip Kotecha says...
Why are Englang players so bothered about the IPL???? The only players it concerns are Pietersen and Flintoff who will get offers. The rest of them like Collingwood etc will be lucky to get anything. What people in theis country fail to realise is that the overseas players that command huge pay packets are those that are not only top players but also commercially attractive. Players like Collingwood et al dont fit into this category. England are hardly world beaters at one day cricket anyway........
Posted 21:40 16th November 2008