IPL 2021 Auction: Mark Wood Pulls His Name Out From The Auction

England pacer, Mark Wood has opted out of the IPL 2021 auction, which is slated for Thursday (February 18) in Chennai. Wood was amongst the 292 players which were shortlisted from a total of 1000 players to be auctioned.

Mark Wood’s quality of bowling with express pace would have most certainly got him a buyer; he had indeed placed himself in the INR 2 cr bracket – which is the highest bracket of the base price – meaning that he expected a bidding war for himself by the franchises.

However, now, as per a report in Sportstar, the 31-year-old has opted out of the auction a day before the event takes place in Chennai – Wood has taken this decision in order to spend more time with his family amidst the busy calendar year for England.

England have an extremely occupied year – since the start of 2021, the Three Lions are scheduled to play 17 Tests, 12 ODIs, and 16 T20Is, add to it the T20 World Cups as well. Apart from that several players are to take part in the IPL and The Hundred.

Mark Wood returns to England side for last two Tests against India

Mark Wood played in the two-Test matches in Sri Lanka and was sent back home along with Jonny Bairstow and Sam Curran. All three players were rested from the first two Tests in India; Wood and Bairstow have landed in India and are available for selection in the last two remaining Tests while Curran is rested from the third Test.

Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer were rested from the Sri Lanka series, while Moeen Ali has flown back to England after the second Test against Virat Kohli’s side.

All this rested and rotating of players – even if it means not fielding their best side – comes in accordance with the more than an ever busy cricketing year- besides to living in bio-bubble and away from families.

Mark Wood is also in England’s T20 team which will take on India for a 5 match series following the Test series. Hence, had the speedster stayed for the IPL, he would have been away from his family, and in the bio-bubble in India, for more than 3 months. Wood has played just a solitary game in the IPL so far, for CSK in 2018.

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