International
Cook puts country before lure of Indian cash
ALASTAIR Cook is confident
his England team-mates will
turn their backs on the Indian
Premier League if they have to
choose between the Twenty20
tournament and a central contract.
The 23-year-old opener has
joined Michael Vaughan and
Kevin Pietersen in expressing
an interest in eventually playing
in the IPL, but he would not
jeopardise his international future.
An option for players is to reject
central contracts with the
England and Wales Cricket
Board, a possibility Cook would
not consider.
I can't see people turning
their backs on playing for their
country,'' he said. There is no
greater thrill than scoring hundreds
or taking wickets to win
games.
Obviously financially it's
better to play in the IPL but life
is not all about money.
Money is important and you
are only in the game a short period
of time so if you can do
both then it would be great. The
schedules are so tight at the moment
that it is just not possible.''
The IPL has overshadowed
England's preparations for the
series against New Zealand,
with the first Test at Lord's on
May 15.
The tourists have had their
build-up disrupted by five players
signing up for the IPL, such
are the financial rewards on
offer.
Cook admits the lure of India
is exciting, yet not his own priority.
To play with Aussies, South
Africans and Kiwis in one side
together could be really exciting
but first and foremost it's
about England,'' he said. I definitely
won't be changing. If you
can do both it would be great,
but England comes first.
Twenty20 has changed
cricket in many ways but the
benchmark is Test cricket and I
can't see that changing for a
long time.''
Despite the disruption the
tourists have faced, Cook is still
expecting a stern examination
if they are to record back-toback
series wins over the Kiwis.
We're not taking them lightly
because most sessions in the
winter against them were very
competitive,'' he said. We managed
to win the crucial ones.
They may not have the
household names of Australia
and South Africa but there are
talented cricketers coming over
with a point to prove away from
home."
9:50am Thursday 1st May 2008
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