Cricket Australia responds after Ricky Ponting forced out of commentary box by 'rude' India move
The timing of the IPL auction has raised eyebrows around the cricket world.
Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley has offered a diplomatic response amid claims the timing of the IPL auction in the middle of the first Test against India is simply 'rude'. The two-day auction for the lucrative T20 competition will begin in Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening (Aussie time), coinciding with the end of the third day's play in the first Test in Perth.
Because Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer are both head coaches in the IPL (with Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants respectively), they'e been forced to fly to Suadi Arabia after just one day of commentating for Channel 7 in Perth. And Australia's coaching staff has also been affected, with assistant Daniel Vettori required at the IPL auction because he coaches Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The timing of the mega-auction - right in the middle of the first Test - has raised eyebrows around the cricket world, with some suggesting it was 'rude' from Indian officials and a ploy to hamper Australia's preparations. But Hockley offered a diplomatic response on Saturday, saying: "I think it's not ideal. I think if you spoke to our broadcast partners who have commentators who are also IPL coaches, they would also say it's not ideal.
"But that's out of our hands. I know certainly our players here will be fully-focused here, and it will be something to think and talk about after the Test match."
Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald dismiss concerns
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald and captain Pat Cummins have both dismissed concerns about Vettori's absence, especially in light of the precarious position the Aussies found themselves in after the second day in Perth. India went to stumps at 0-172, holding a 218-run lead.
"He is still connected with us. A lot of pre-planning, prep work has gone in," McDonald said. "The answer is no [it doesn't make a difference], he’s got some commitments elsewhere." Cummins said before the Test: “Dan has obviously flown over there. But he has been here for the whole prep, we've done a lot meetings, done all the chats and he will be watching and keeping an eye on it anyway."
Ricky Ponting airs frustrations with timing of IPL auction
As for Ponting, the Australian legend didn't shy away from his annoyance at having to fly out in the middle of a Test. "It’s the worst possible case scenario for me and ‘JL’ (Langer),” Ponting told the Sydney Morning Herald. “We for the last couple of months felt that it was probably going to be in the gap between the (first and second) Test matches."
Ponting said it would add a layer of stress for the Australian and Indian Test players in the auction. "[Not having it in the middle of a Test] takes all the pressure off the players from both teams," Ponting said. "So I always thought it would’ve been in that gap because it just seemed better for everybody. But I don’t know why they’ve chosen the dates they have – it might have something to do with the game. The auction actually starts on air almost immediately after the end of play. So it might be something to do with broadcast."
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Channel 7 officials have confirmed that Ponting and Langer will be back in Australia for the second Test in Adelaide, which starts on December 6. Cummins and Travis Head are the only Australian players with a guaranteed contract for the 2025 IPL, after Sunrisers Hyderabad opted to retain the duo ahead of the auction.
A total of 37 Australian players have entered in for the mega-auction, including Test stars Josh Hazlewood, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Alex Carey and Mitch Marsh. Indian Test players KL Rahul, Ravi Ashwin and Rishabh Pant are also up for grabs.
with AAP
