IPL auction won't be a distraction in the third Test against Pakistan, says Andrew Strauss
The Test captain of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AJ-Strauss-c964, on Thursday played down the speculation that the players’ auction for the fifth season of the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) on Saturday would be a distraction for his team. England starts the third and
final Test of the series on Friday, February 3, 2012 at the Dubai International Stadium. The IPL players’ auction is scheduled to take place at Bangalore on Saturday, February 4.
Four English players who are going to be playing in the third Test match are up for auction. These include spearhead pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Prior-c1984. While Kevin
Pietersen, Eion http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SCJ-Broad-c2465 already have IPL contracts in place.
Other players who will appear in the auction and are part of the squad touring the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RS-Bopara-c2373 and the injured Chris Tremlett.
"I certainly hope not. I think we've had this circumstance before," said Strauss when asked if the auction will be on the minds of the players when they take the field against Pakistan on Friday morning,
"I certainly remember Test matches in the past where this has been looming, in the background - and it is very much in the background,” he added further.
England has lost the opening two Tests of the ongoing series quite convincingly and they must be eager to avoid a series whitewash by at least drawing the Dubai Test.
With Saturday's auction in the Indian Premier League (IPL) looming, Strauss was asked whether that would be a distraction for his players.
"I would be very, very surprised if any of our players had their attention anywhere other than on the game at the moment - especially after what's happened over the last couple of Test matches," said England’s Test skipper, insisting he does not want to
join the lucrative Twenty20 League.
Having already lost the three-match series, England has only pride to play for in the third Test while Pakistan must be eager to avenge the shambles of the infamous 2010 series by inflicting a 3-0 whitewash on England, something that has never happened in
the history of England-http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Test history.
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