Mickey Arthur: England Must Stop Players From Playing In The IPL To Improve Test Side

England Test squad was criticized after losing the Ashes by 4-0

England lost this year’s Ashes series by 4-0. It was a humiliating loss in the Ashes and the England’s Test squad was criticised. It is also seen that the England’s record in the Test format has been less impressive in recent years.

The Ashes defeat has led the departure of head coach Chris Silverwood, batting Coach Graham Thorpe and managing director Ashley Giles.

Former Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur believes England players need to stop participating in the IPL in order to improve their Test side.

Arthur, who joined English county Derbyshire as head of cricket after stepping down as Sri Lanka coach late last year, said county cricket is not to be blamed for England's poor performance in Tests in recent years.

"England haven't scored enough runs. It's as simple as that," Arthur told The Times. "If you want to lay the blame, you can lay it right there. County cricket isn't to blame.

"For so long county cricket has been a really good producer of international players. I don't think there's a problem with the system ... If you want the strength early season, unfortunately you are going to have to stop the players going to the IPL.

"They are playing there in the early part of the season just before the first Tests. You need your best players playing county cricket preparing for that."

England have reinvented themselves as a one-day cricket powerhouse since their early exit from the 2015 World Cup, winning the next edition of the format's biggest title on home soil.

But their record in the longest format of the game has been less impressive in recent years, with the final Ashes Test loss marking their 15th consecutive Test in Australia without a win.