Mark Wood. Image credits: Peter Cziborra / Reuters
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England fast bowler Mark Wood said that the reason behind him denying “life-changing” money in the IPL 2021 auction which took place in Chennai on February 18, was to spend time with his family and be ready for England for the upcoming summer of international cricket.
Wood, 31, has withdrawn his name on the morning of the IPL 2021 auction, reducing the England contingent in the 291-man IPL auction to just 16 players. Moeen Ali was the most expensive England player sold in the auction, bought by Chennai Super Kings for Rs 7 crores, while Sam Billings was bought by Delhi Capitals for his base price of Rs 2 crore.
Mark Wood. Image-Twitter.
I didn’t want to go into the auction and then withdraw at a later date, says Mark Wood
Talking about pulling out at the last minute from the IPL 2021 auction, England pacer Mark Wood said that the decision was not taken so late. He didn’t want to be bought in the auction and then had to tell them he doesn’t plan on playing the tournament.
Mark Wood. Image-AP.
“It wasn’t until the last minute. I didn’t want to go into the auction and then let a team down at a later date, I didn’t think that was fair. I was to-ing and fro-ing back and forth because I thought it would have improved me as a cricketer and there was a huge opportunity to improve my wage by going there. It would have been a huge opportunity for me and although it was life-changing money, I’m comfortable with my decision and I hope it serves me well,” Wood reflection on his decision to pull out of 2021 IPL auction.
My Family And The Upcoming International Cricket For England Reason For Withdrawing- Mark Wood
Wood, who is in India for the last two Test matches to be played at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera from February 24 and March 4 onwards, highlighted the reasons why he withdrew from the IPL 2021 auction.
“First and foremost it was my family. I’m going to spend six weeks here in India and it would have been another eight weeks on top of that so that’s 14 weeks. We’re in a strange situation with Covid and we can’t see our families while we’re with England like we usually do and I wanted to be able to switch off, go home and recharge for the second reason which of course is being ready for England.
Mark Wood (Getty)
I don’t want my body to fail me or be a bit bruised mentally or physically for the back end of the year when it’s the World Cup and ashes and the summer when it’s a big series against India at home. So I wanted to be ready and available and have some family time as well because there is a lot of time away from home this year,” Wood said.
Mark Wood is expected to be seen in England Test team when they face India in the first-ever day/night Test match between the two sides in Ahmedabad, which starts on February 24.
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