Australia "failed with an attempt to offer its most indispensable asset, Mitchell Johnson, a lucrative incentive not to go to the Indian Premier League this year, amid concerns he’s in danger of burning out before the Ashes series," according to Ben Horne of the HERALD SUN.
Fellow cricket players Ryan Harris and Brad Haddin "were also offered contract incentives not to go to the IPL this April-May." Both players "accepted and will instead use the eight-week window to rest."
Johnson, the "most lethal fast bowler in the world, of course commands far more money than Harris and Haddin in the IPL and he understandably wants to cash in on his stunning career renaissance." Cricket Australia "did not want its precious commodity to go to this year’s IPL, given the unprecedented demands of a jam-packed 12 month schedule." England "effectively bans its players from the IPL as it falls at the start of their summer."
It is "hard to blame Johnson," when you consider the A$1M he picked up at last year’s IPL auction (HERALD SUN, 1/13).
