Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Former Australian legends express disappointment over IPL auction clash with Perth Test

Australian cricket legends Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer have voiced their frustration over the scheduling clash between the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction and the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth, calling it “the worst possible case scenario.”

The IPL auction, set to take place on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has forced Ponting, Langer, and key personnel like Australia’s bowling coach Daniel Vettori to prioritize their IPL commitments, causing them to miss significant portions of the crucial series opener against India.

Ponting, the head coach of Punjab Kings, and Langer, the coach of Lucknow Super Giants, will be available for the opening day of commentary with Channel Seven before flying out to Jeddah for the auction. The timing of the event means both will be absent from the Test match after the first day, a situation that has not gone unnoticed by the former Australian cricketers.

"I always thought it would've been in the gap between the Test matches, it seemed better for everybody," Ponting said. "It takes all the pressure off the players from both teams. There's a lot of players in both teams in the auction, so it would have been ideal to have it in that window."

Ponting speculated that the decision to schedule the auction immediately after the first day’s play might be influenced by broadcasting concerns. "The auction actually starts almost immediately after the end of play, so it might be something to do with broadcast," he added.

While the clash has disrupted Ponting and Langer's preparations, Channel Seven has defended their absence, citing the unique insights they bring as IPL coaches. Chris Jones, Seven’s director of sport, stated, "The IPL auction involves the world's best coaches and analysts, and both Ricky and Justin bring unrivalled insights to our coverage."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan expressed his disagreement with the timing of the IPL auction, stating, "I don’t agree with the fact that they put the IPL auction in the middle of the first Test. I think it’s ridiculous. We’ve got a nine-day break in between the first and the second (Tests), so why place it there? Players are already under pressure during a Test match, and I don’t understand why they would want to shift the focus of that Test match to an IPL auction in Saudi Arabia," Vaughan told Codesports.

Despite their absence, Ponting is set to return for the day-night Test in Adelaide starting December 6, with both he and Langer eager to resume their commentary roles after the auction concludes.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia has adjusted its plans to accommodate Vettori, who will miss the entire first Test. Lachlan Stevens, head of Australia's under-19 program, will join the team, and head coach Andrew McDonald may temporarily take over Vettori's duties during the Perth Test.