Joe Root weighing up entering IPL auction but mindful of Test priority

Root has never played in the Indian Premier League, and his only experience of playing domestic T20 cricket outside England came during a brief stint with Sydney Thunder

Joe Root is adamant he will only make himself available for the IPL if he is certain it "will never compromise" his performances in Test cricket.

Root, England's Test captain, has struggled for selection in England's T20I team over the last three years. But he retains ambitions in the format and admits he would like to experience the IPL at some stage.

At the same time, he has looked weary in recent weeks and accepts he may benefit from a rest once England's Test tour to the Caribbean finishes at the end of March.

"I have not made a decision on the IPL just yet," Root said. "It is something I will have to keep wrestling with. Time is ticking but I have a lot to weigh up.

"The thing I will weigh up is: will it have a negative impact on me playing Test cricket for this team? If I don't think it will, then I will put myself in that position to play and put myself in the auction.

"But I will never compromise or do anything that will detract from playing Test cricket for England. It is so important to make sure that is the priority for me and other players as well."

^{Root has never played in the IPL but featured four times in the T20 Blast in 2021 for Yorkshire (Ashley Allen/Getty Images)}

It is entirely possible that Root would not be picked up in the auction, anyway. Not only is his long-term T20 record relatively modest (he has a strike-rate of 126.30), but his availability is likely to be compromised by England's Test commitments.

The IPL is currently scheduled to run from April 2 to June 3, with England's tour of the Caribbean scheduled to run until March 28 and their Test series against New Zealand starts on June 2. England's Test players may well be required to return to county duty by mid-May to ensure they are in some form ahead of the series.

It is also possible that Ashley Giles, the managing director of England men's cricket, steps in to make the decision for Root. While the ECB have taken a pretty relaxed attitude towards their players' involvement in the competition over the last few years – they have even encouraged it – it may be that their struggles in Test cricket in 2021 prompt a re-think.

In theory, any player who has signed a central contract could be prevented from going though, in practice, the ECB are likely to take a more measured view.

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