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Loading ...Good on the lad. Michael Clarke has made a similar call here.
Broad shoulders
By Mark Tilley last year, at the end of January Add your comment below
Interesting and heartwarming to see Stuart Broad politely refusing the chance to play in the Indian Premier League. Broad, a wise old head on young shoulders, possibly feels that the crucial summer of English cricket, encompassing a Twenty20 World Cup and an Ashes series, is worth preparing for properly and so has opted out of the high profile player auction to be held on 6 February.
Is it a good choice for young Broad? Financially, it is probably not. The Nottinghamshire fast bowler could stand to earn a six figure sum should he be signed by one of the eight teams involved. However, Broad has his eye on the bigger picture. England face a rigorous schedule between now and the rest of the summer and the heavy workload has seen many an England bowler break down injured (see Messrs Sidebottom, Flintoff and Harmison). Broad is clearly desperate to have a big role in the Ashes contest with Australia this summer and views this as his one chance to have a break before the hectic summer.
It is not unfeasible to say that England surely stand to benefit from Broad’s absence from the IPL. Ignoring the fact that Twenty20 is not necessarily a bowlers game and that Broad has painful T20 memories (thanks, Yuvraj), Broad could well have an extra spring in his step come the visit of both the West Indians and the Aussies. Mick Newell, Broad’s coach at Nottinghamshire, has described the decision as ‘very mature’ and it’s hard to argue. Us mortals can only imagine the monetary lure of the IPL and how easy it must be to play motivated by the promise of cold hard cash.
In making this decision, Broad has shown us two things. One – that he views playing for his country as the main objective and ambition in cricket and that no amount of money can detract from that for him. And two - that it is possible for players in this day and age to say no to the big money riches of the IPL. With all the concern over the longevity of Test cricket and the preservation of cricketing traditions, Broad’s mature stance must be a well of relief for those fretting the most.
Here’s hoping that Broad will prove that he made the right decision and really come on as a Test bowler this summer. I, for one, applaud his decision, wholeheartedly.
Tags: ashes, england, injury, IPL, nottinghamshire, stuart-broad, twenty20 |
15 Responses to “Broad shoulders”
January 28th, 2009 at 10.24 pm
January 29th, 2009 at 4.55 am
I’m not so sure. There are reports (which I read on Cricinfo) that say in this year’s auctions only a handful (around 15) of players will be picked. All the franchises are also aware of Broad’s ‘painful’ lack of T20 skills. So, I would have been surprised if here picked up by any of them. With this announcement, he has made sure that he will not feel unwanted:-)
January 29th, 2009 at 8.48 am
Does this necessarily mean, then, that Pietersen and anyone else going to the IPL are automatically blackguards and finks of the worst sort because they are deserting English cricket (in yet another of it’s many, many, many, MANY) hours of need?
Anyway, in this age of financial turmoil, who knows if the money was there for someone like Broad? Personally, I think all the money they’ve got left is barely enough to buy an Atherton! 
January 29th, 2009 at 4.00 pm
Sorry this is long but it had to be.
Lots of rubbish being circulated & believed in the British media about the IPL.My dad knows people from the Delhi IPL franchise & I can confirm that there is absolutely no interest in Samit Patel as has been reported by wierdos operating in media.
Recession will also ensure that apart from Flintoff,Pietersen,Duminy,Clarke-who’s base price is quite high & as far as I know IS playing & HAS thrown his hat in the ring & anyone else who comes in cheap,most others will be unsold.
Unkown,Uncontracted young Aussie guys have been signed up owing to their extremely low rates & handed contracts,Broad is a different story.
So Broad didn’t have much of a chance Mr.Tilley.It’s called common sense-what he’s shown-& his dad who knows his stuff & has info from around the world has a role to play here.
Having said that,’Pie’tersen(who has a pie in his name,Interesting) has the highest base price at $1.35mill.
Modi knows his stuff & setting of base prices is hugely because of the dismal season 1 of the Royal Challengers Bangalore & consequently their Beer Baron Owner Vijay Mallya making his interest in buying new guys very obvious, one of whom is KP.
The English market is also hugely responsible for the humongous base-price of KP.
January 29th, 2009 at 4.01 pm
I think it’s repulsive & thoroughly disgusting that anyone ignoring the IPL is heart-warming whereas you don’t mention farcical stuff like the Stanford Circus where the fat American guy is plainly put,bribing the 2 boards for 5 years.
If your argument is that of keeping yourself fresh & fit for international assignments by not playing the IPL than let me remind you these aren’t test games being played in the Chennai Heat for 5 days.Broad if he played would have played for 3 weeks like all the other English guys.2 games a week,ie. 6-7 odd games translating to a max of maybe 30 overs over 3 weeks.This is not like the counties in England where they play 6 days a week & overwork & kill their overseas/foreign player.
Considering all that,he’s taken a sensible decision.It’d have been quite embarrassing had he remained unsold.It’s not as if franchises are dying to sign on someone who was made famous rather infamous by Yuvraj Singh.
Johnson was a guy in demand last season & this season.He complained of being over-worked some time ago & now has justifiably chosen to cool his heels & recharge the batteries.THAT is what raises your status amongst your fans/peers/well-wishers.
I have nothing against little Broad,but noone here, most importantly noone in the franchises, really cares if he makes himself unavailable.
January 29th, 2009 at 4.33 pm
I agree with Raxar,JII,Sathnam completely.
Theres no money right now to buy more than a couple of cricketers.He wouldn’t have been bought.
I find it hilarious that Darren Gough,Ed Joyce,Sajid Mahmood have made themselves “auctionable”.I don’t know who the latter two are but that isn’t good news for them is it??
Gough??Cough,Cough.COUGH.
Why don’t we all try out for the IPL then??
I also heard a few has-been English cricketers in TV interviews being asked about what they would do “when” they’re offered IPL contracts(as if they’re delivered to your place every morning with the paper).They had the cheek to say I’d put the country over the IPL.Thats a great thought buddy but why do you think you’ll get offered anything.Better answer would have been ,”Well, I don’t think at this stage of my cricketing career any body’s signing me up.”
BTW,this 1.3 million dollar base price for kevin pietersen is part of a plan by lalit modi.Luring,bribing,tempting are the words that can be used to describe this move.
I agree with Sathnam that most of the players up for “sale” will be unsold.
In the meantime SA could become #1 ODI team for the 3rd time during the Aussie reign if they win the last game in the away series against Aus.2007,08 & now in 09 as well would make them the greatest rivals that Australia have had during this period.Meanwhile,India thrash Lanka in Lanka & gain ICC ranking points.Maybe by the time the Indo-Lankan series ends Aus would be at #3.
The reaction of Aussie fans is something I’d love to see coz it’s a very realistic possibility like I said by the time Indo-lankan series ends.
I hope the reactions are mature,sensible & calm.
Yes thats right,I’m an eternally optimistic individual.
January 29th, 2009 at 11.25 pm
A lot has been said about how certain people gave KP “bad advice” that cost him his captaincy. I’m beginning to wonder if it wasn’t in fact good advice from a financial perspective, since as captain he might have had trouble getting 3 weeks away to claim his big payday.
Now if only the BBC would buy terrestrial broadcast rights in the U.K. for IPL matches and if Peter Moores would get a coaching job in the IPL, we could tie together most of the big cricket side-stories of the past month or two with one happy ending.
BTW, about Darren Gough, I’m wondering why he isn’t looking at the ICL. And about Broad, I agree it’s a very mature decision. I won’t criticize anyone else’s decision, though, because maybe it would be fun to play in the ICL, even if the money for the second-tier players is not quite the rainbow they thought they were chasing. They might even learn something over there.
January 30th, 2009 at 9.35 am
The IPL is a poor man’s county championship.
‘Poor’ being the operative word. Why would Broad leave the leafy suburbs of Nottinghamshire, and move to the slums of Mumbai or Delhi?
January 30th, 2009 at 11.20 am
“It is not unfeasible …………….and the aussies.”
20-20 is tough on pace bowlers and bowlers in general but its helped them to gain limited overs skills.Legendary McGrath’s economy rate was less than 6.
There were quite a few lowscoring matches as well where it was tough on the batsman.I find more than half of the article ridiculous.If 20-20 is tough on pacers than they shouldn’t play.What argument is that?
If he has an injury problem and he genuinely believes he’ll benefit from the break than good on him.
I also agree with most of the comments here.He didn’t stand much of a chance.
Darren Gough still plays cricket??I tell you if Darren Gough gets a contract I’ll have a heart attack.These clowns think IPL is some low-grade B level tournament.Big so-called 20-20 stars failed and young ozzy and indian players stole the show.It is a very very intense,high quality tournament and I don’t see Broad getting picked frankly.Unless his Papa has contacts.
January 30th, 2009 at 3.16 pm
deepthepundit, you can’t control your language go elsewhere please. The same goes for others; if you can’t be bothered to write a balanced argument without getting into a race war, then this site isn’t for you.
January 30th, 2009 at 3.46 pm
Banger I could reverse that by asking you why anyone would leave the riches of the ipl and the luxurious life in new delhi,gurgaon,chandigarh,south mumbai to move into some tiny obscure village in england.
January 31st, 2009 at 12.51 am
thank you Will for raising the race issue.
I’m british but of indian parentage- i love the game and have no loyalties to any nation-the game is above notions of patriotism. true cricket lovers appreciate the silky strokeplay of zaheer abbass and the metronome accuracy of glen mcgrath in equal measure.
I find the increasing racial understones of comments from my brothers from te sub-continent very unpalletable. it demonstrate that that you may know the game but the game does not know you- comments relating to the slums of bombay or delhi are equally unpalletable.
I advise anyone who wants to make such comments go elsewhere there is no place for you in our game
January 31st, 2009 at 10.35 am
I would kindly request Sir William of Luke to immediately remove this slum comment by Banger.Anti-IPL & Anti-BCCI,Anti-indian cricket ,moderately anti-india is ok but this is taking it too far.What does he mean the slums of Mumbai or Delhi???????
Anyway Who’s deepthepundit?& what is this race-war going on?I didn’t mention anything racial in my post.
January 31st, 2009 at 10.50 am
I would also like to add to ivar291:I’m not from the school of thought wherein you try & please everyone to finally please none.
Where is the ‘increasing racial undertone’ in my comment?????
All your ‘brothers’ from the sub-continet are racist & you’re the male equivalent of Mother Teresa right????
You wanna appear unbiased so you start blaming both sides as if you’re an incarnation of a saint.
“The game is above notions of patriotism”.Well done,you’d have won Miss Universe beauty pageant with that answer.Noone’s being racist here.Atleast noone except Banger.
It’s pathetic that this Bangers post has been up for more than 24 hours now.Are you awake Willy????WTF is the meaning of this.
January 31st, 2009 at 1.27 pm
I wouldn’t want banger’s post to be removed,even though it sucks.Keep it.Let people view how jealous some morons have become.Nottingamshire???Give me a break.Nottingamshire.LOL.IPL ‘poor’ man’s county.I give it to you,you tried cracking a joke but metaphorically atleast manged to get everyone who read it to crack their skulls against the wall.
would it be possible for banger to take his prescribed medicine before posting his racist,snobbish comments.
banger,anyone who told you to be yourself couldn’t have given you worse advice.Don’t you realize that there are enough people to hate in the world already without you working so hard to give us another?I would ask you how old you are, but I know you can’t count that high.I see you’ve set aside this special time to humiliate yourself on the Internet.For the greater good of mankind you should try juggling pin-less grenades while riding a wild boar through a minefield.
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