Cricket Australia has confirmed that three of its premier fast bowlers will miss the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will not feature in the initial phase of the tournament as part of recovery and workload management plans.
The decision comes as the board looks to carefully manage its key players ahead of a demanding international season.
Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood in recovery phase
Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are currently in the recovery phase, while Mitchell Starc is also being rested as part of load management. A final decision on their participation will be made after monitoring their progress in the coming weeks.
In addition, fast bowler Nathan Ellis has been ruled out of the IPL due to a hamstring injury. Pat Cummins is dealing with back pain, and Josh Hazlewood is recovering from a hamstring injury that also kept him out of the T20 World Cup.
It is worth noting that the Australian Test team is scheduled to play 21 matches in the upcoming season, making workload management for multi-format players essential.
IPL not ranked as best League
The world’s most expensive cricket league, the Indian Premier League (IPL), has not been ranked the best. The World Cricketers’ Association has released its latest rankings of global cricket leagues.
According to the global players’ body, despite its financial strength, the IPL still needs improvement to become the top league, particularly in areas related to players’ rights and welfare.
Among the top ten leagues, the IPL is ranked third. England’s The Hundred holds the top position, followed by South Africa’s SA20 League in second place. It has been awarded 75.2 points, while SA20 has received 68 points. The IPL stands at 62.6 points.
Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) is ranked fourth with 62.5 points, and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is fifth with 48 points.
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