IPL: Jimmy Anderson enters auction for first time, months after international retirement, but Ben Stokes to skip season
Published 06/11/2024 at 10:04 GMT
Jimmy Anderson could be making a comeback four months after his international retirement from cricket, this time in the Indian Premier League. The 42-year-old has not played since his final Test appearance at Lord's in July, and has never played in a global T20 franchise league, but has entered the IPL's auction later this month. Red-ball captain Ben Stokes has ruled himself out of the season.
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Former England bowler Jimmy Anderson, who retired from international duty in July, has put his name forward for the Indian Premier League auction later this month.
But England red-ball captain Ben Stokes has not registered, meaning he will skip the upcoming season and is also ineligible to compete in the 2026 edition, after new rules were introduced by the IPL last month.
Anderson has never played in a global T20 franchise league, with his last T20 appearance coming in 2014, but his entry in the mega-auction suggests a return to action is on the cards.
England's leading wicket-taker of all time, the 42-year-old enjoyed a glittering 22-year career, with his final match in an England shirt coming this summer in a Test against the West Indies at Lord's.
He has not played since that emotional farewell from international competition, but never confirmed he would retire completely.
“I might be in a bit of denial because I’m well aware I won’t play for England again, but I’ve still not made a decision on my actual cricket career,” Anderson told the Press Association in August.
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“There’s definitely a bit of intrigue with the shorter formats because I’ve not played any franchise stuff before. Watching The Hundred this year, seeing the ball swing around, it makes me feel like I could do a job there.
“Once this summer is done, I can sit down and have a real think if I want to play cricket in some shape or form again next year.
“I’m quite open at the minute to thoughts of any sort of cricket, I’m still fit enough to play and I’m not shutting myself off to anything.”
The wicket-taker has a base price of £114,000 in the auction, which will be held on 24 and 25 November in Saudi Arabia.
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Pace bowler Jofra Archer has also put his name forward, possibly complicating his hopes of playing Test cricket next summer after coming back from a series of injuries.
The 2025 IPL will clash with the start of the County Championship, potentially limiting Archer's chances to prove himself as fit for selection.
A total of 52 English players are registered for the auction, with Stokes a notable absence, although he has previously expressed an interest in a return to white-ball. The Test captain ruled himself out of contention for the 2024 season to focus on his fitness.
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New rules introduced by the IPL mean that any overseas player signed by a franchise who pulls out of competition will be banned for two years.
Teams are allowed to retain up to six players from 2024, but no England players have been retained by their franchises, meaning the likes of white-ball captain Jos Buttler - released after seven seasons with Rajasthan Royals - could also be available in the mega-auction.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has not disclosed which of its centrally-contracted players have registered for the auction.
HOW TO WATCH WEST INDIES V ENGLAND SERIES
Every ball of the West Indies v England ODI and T20 series is streamed live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
The third and final ODI of the series takes place in Barbados on Wednesday, with coverage beginning at 17:30 BST, and all to play for after England levelled the series with a stylish victory at the weekend.
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