Hot cross Poms

If the Pommy lads aren't allowed to play in the IPL, they'll be cross and defiant.

Said Sean Morris, the CEO of the Professional Cricketers' Association, in a roundabout sort of way. "Restricting employees anywhere will cause friction in a relationship - over a period of time that will break it down."

I think he has a very valid point here. If it came to it, can England afford to be sacking its top players if they're defying orders, ala New Zealand and the ICL? I think not.

He also said that a solution must be found or money will talk, and on that point, I had an interesting conversation with a ten-dollar note about where to find cyanide solution the other day, actually. Once again, Miss Field leads the way.

Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman, apparently knows that top England players want to play in the IPL ("I know a lot of them are interested...") and he is willing to move the season a bit to accommodate. What a star.

On the contrary though, the ECB's chairman Giles Clarke said the England lads are all happy little vegemites, that he is not under pressure from any of them to be allowed to play in the IPL ("I don't think the rewards being talked about are ones England players would be interested in.") because they're all satisfied with dedicating their lives to a lost cause. That way at least they can die as martyrs.

Now. Someone's telling fibs here, and I have a theory that it's Mr Clarke. When all the cricketing countries are joining in but yet his players, without exception, are happy not to, something isn't quite right.

I wonder who will stand by their apparent convictions and who will be bought. We all have a price...