India has shown who is the top dog on the world cricket stage, with Australia set to be without one of its key coaches for the upcoming first Test – so he can perform IPL duties.
Bowling mentor Daniel Vettori will miss the game entirely so he can attend the IPL’s mega player auction in Saudi Arabia, with the auction in Jeddah being held on days three and four of the First Test.
Vettori will be with the team to finish preparations for the first Test with head coach Andrew McDonald, formerly a bowling coach, set to take over Vettori’s portfolio in his absence, with former Australian star Michael Hussey also with the team until Thursday.
“We are very supportive of Dan’s role as head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad,” CA said in a statement.
“Dan will complete the final preparation for the first Test before attending the IPL auction.
“He will then be with the team for the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.”
Vetorri joins former Australian Test stars turned commentators, Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer, with all three head coaches of franchises in the world’s richest Twenty20 competition.
“It’s the worst possible case scenario for me and J.L. [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 Test matches. It takes all the pressure off the players from both teams. There are a lot of players in both teams in the auction.
“So I always thought it would have 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 the broadcast.
“I’m calling the first day then flying out late Friday night to Jeddah. The auction is the 24th and 25th, and then depending on how we’re going through our auction, we’ll see when I can return.
“Hopefully, I’ll get back for the end of Perth, and if not I’ll be back on deck for the start of Adelaide.”
Daniel Vettori. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
It’s the latest example of India’s influence over world cricket, with the trio prioritising their IPL commitments with an Indian domestic Twenty20 franchise while the national team is playing India in what many see as the biggest Test series in years.
Cricket Australia and Channel 7 also seem to have lost out to powerful cricket authorities in India but remained diplomatic, confirming the commentators would be back for the second Test.
“The IPL auction involves the world’s best coaches and analysts in the game, and we are privileged enough to have two of them on our broadcast all summer long,” Seven’s director of sport Chris Jones said.
“Alongside Sunil Gavaskar, who knows the travelling side better than anyone, both Ricky and Justin are uniquely placed as IPL coaches to bring unrivalled insights to viewers about the Indian and Australian players, which further strengthens our live and free coverage.
“We look forward to welcoming both Ricky and Justin back for the Adelaide Test from Friday, 6 December, where they will share all the action from behind the scenes at one of international cricket’s biggest events.”
Indian broadcaster Disney Star has the rights to both the Test series and the IPL auction in India and will run one after the other, in a double-header that is almost certain to be a ratings bonanza across the country.