indianexpress.com :: 'Australia's domestic cricket in danger’

'Australia's domestic cricket in danger’

Agencies

Posted online: Saturday, March 01, 2008 at 1524 hrs IST

Melbourne, March 1:
Former Australia batsman Darren Lehmann warned Cricket Australia that it might lose more first class players if they persisted with their policy of banning players joining the ICL.

Jason Gillespie and Jimmy Maher added to the list of Australian first class cricketers, who have preffered to play in the cash-rich Indian Cricket League than in the domestic competition.

They follow compatriots Michael Kasprowicz and Matthew Elliott, who retired to play in the Essel Group-backed venture.

Cricket Australia, like other national boards, has taken a strong stance against the rebel ICL and threatened its contracted cricketers with bans if they chose to get involved with the unofficial league.

"It (the lure of the ICL) is certainly going to impact on experience levels. I think that trend will continue among experienced state players who probably are not going to play for Australia again," Lehmann was quoted as saying in The Age.

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'Australia's domestic cricket in danger’ Agencies Posted online: Saturday, March 01, 2008 at 1524 hrs IST Melbourne, March 1: Former Australia batsman Darren Lehmann warned Cricket Australia that it might lose more first class players if they persisted with their policy of banning players joining the ICL. Jason Gillespie and Jimmy Maher added to the list of Australian first class cricketers, who have preffered to play in the cash-rich Indian Cricket League than in the domestic competition. They follow compatriots Michael Kasprowicz and Matthew Elliott, who retired to play in the Essel Group-backed venture. Cricket Australia, like other national boards, has taken a strong stance against the rebel ICL and threatened its contracted cricketers with bans if they chose to get involved with the unofficial league. "It (the lure of the ICL) is certainly going to impact on experience levels. I think that trend will continue among experienced state players who probably are not going to play for Australia again," Lehmann was quoted as saying in The Age.