England's Multi-Format Players Must Take Responsibility And Put Test Cricket Ahead Of IPL: Nasser Hussain

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has continued his criticism of the country’s Test team that performed miserably in the four-match series in India. India consigned England to heavy defeats in the last three Tests as the tourists could not keep the leash despite winning the series-opener. Nasser Hussain called for England to prioritize Test cricket as participating in two IPL seasons within six months has made the Test side vulnerable.

England’s rotation policy for the high-voltage Test series in India has copped widespread criticism. Their plan caused them to rest players like Jos Buttler, who did not play after the first Test and whose counter-attack could have been useful for the tourists for the rest of the series. But the management’s decision to rest him ahead of the white-ball matches and IPL cost them the Test series.

Nasser Hussain admitted that England asked Moeen Ali to stay after the second Test and players can take ownership of big decisions. The 52-year old also understands that players find it hard to turn down million-dollar IPL deals and also why they wish to feature in a gap of six months.

“England admitted they had asked Moeen Ali to stay on after the second Test. Players can take ownership of these big decisions. That includes the IPL. I understand why players want to play in it. It is so hard in what can be a short career to turn down a lucrative IPL deal. And I also understand why they would want to play in both IPLs in a six-month period this year,” Hussain wrote in his column for Daily Mail.

Players’ decision forces the selectors and management to rotate to prevent burnout: Nasser Hussain

The Chennai-born former cricketer highlighted that the multi-format must take responsibility and put Test cricket before IPL since they have India and Australia tours this year. Since most key players have decided to go for IPL, Ashley Giles and selectors have to either play them in all cricket and risk burnout or rotate them, which makes the Test side vulnerable.

“But the multi-contracted players could have said: ‘Hold on, the ECB are very good in saying we can do the IPL, I’ll just do one of them. This is a unique year and I’m going to put Tests first.’ Most, if not all, have decided to do both IPLs, and the consequence is that Ashley Giles and the selectors have to play them in all cricket and risk burnout or rotate them, and that weakens the Test side, as we’ve just seen,” he added.

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