County unscathed as trio fail to attract IPL bids

Northamptonshire will be at full strength for the start of the season following an Indian Premier League auction that did them no damage.
Steven Crook won't be off to the IPL after attracting no bids at the auctionSteven Crook won't be off to the IPL after attracting no bids at the auction
Steven Crook won't be off to the IPL after attracting no bids at the auction

The trio of Jackson Bird, Muhammad Azharullah and Steven Crook failed to attract any bids from the eight franchises and as such will be available for the campaign opener agaiunst Durham which starts on April 13.

While both Azharullah and Crook were long odds to be picked up, Bird, with an international pedigree and favourably priced, could easily have been selected which would’ve voided his Northants contract.

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But that didn’t materialise and Bird, who is currently on tour with Australia in South Africa, will be available for the first 10 County Championship games and half the Natwest t20 Blast schedule.

Even though the club had given their permission for the players to enter the auction, there will be relief for the management who, for all their words to the contrary, don’t have the deepest squad on which to call.