CUTTACK: Unlike earlier years when England players were not available in large numbers at the lucrative IPL auctions, the scenario will be different this time feels limited overs captain Eoin Morgan.
Asked if he is looking forward to the auction, pat came the reply: "Yes, I do and a lot of them will be available for the auction this year. Hopefully, they will be picked up and playing the majority of the games. That's the best case scenario."
Morgan like Jos Buttler believes that IPL is a platform that can help the English players grow and the ones like him who have played for long should help out.
"It's with our skill level. The belief is there, character is there, talent is there - it's reproducing your skill level. As I mentioned, India are a tough side to beat at home. You need to have skill level. The guys playing the IPL I believe will set them up."
Morgan wants to look at the positives despite his team's series defat against India as the Champions Trophy will be played at home in five months time.
"Although the series is gone, looking further ahead, it's still to be a good test for us as we prepare for the Champions Trophy. The wickets are not turning square, it's not the typical India, it's actually modern-day 50-over cricket challenge," Morgan told the post-match news conference after their 15-run loss last night.
Chasing 382, the England skipper kept themselves alive with a domineering 102 from 81 balls but only to fall short by 15 runs as India took an unassailable 2-0 lead going into the final onedayer at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Jaunary 22.
"You're learning all the time, given the conditions. It's different from what we're are used to. The grounds have been very similar, very small, very batting-friendly which continues to be the case for white-ball cricket. It's almost the case of who bats the best wins. And we haven't produced our best with the bat. We've pushed them close twice, there are positives signs within themselves, but as you said we've lost the series."
The Australians got four set points with a forehand volley winner and then pocketed the set on the first, courtesy a forehand unforced error from Bopanna and Cuevas.
With the match level at one set apiece, the decider went on serve in the first six games before Bolt and Mousley broke Bopanna's serve with a forehand winner to take a 4-3 lead.
Thereafter, the set went on serve as Bopanna and Cuevas failed to break back their opponents to concede the defeat.
Bopanna later blamed a "horrendous call" at a crucial juncture in the match from the chair umpire as the reason behind his early ouster from the men's doubles event.
The contentious call was made on Cuevas' serve, which was broken in the seventh game of the final set. On break point, a volley from Bolt sailed wide but the chair umpire ruled that the ball had brushed Bopanna's racket on the way out.
Protesting the call, Bopanna and Cuevas were involved in an animated conversation with the chair umpire at the change of ends.
"I can't believe you made that call. That's a horrendous call. No one heard (the deflection) and you only heard it.
That's what I am really surprised," said a furious Bopanna while arguing with the chair umpire.
He later tweeted: "Very hard to digest a loss in a match when the REF decides the outcome.Reactions of opponents says it all.@AustralianOpen #MostShockingCall."