A clip from the commentary box during the 5th Ashes Test has gone viral after David Warner suggested England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow wanted to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and not the Indian Premier League (IPL)
According to David Warner, Jonny Bairstow was frustrated with the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) policy: being allowed to play in the IPL but not the PSL.
During a discussion featuring Michael Vaughan, Adam Gilchrist, and Warner, the commentators were talking about how the IPL’s scheduling and commitments can pull players away from international and domestic duties.
Vaughan raised the issue of franchise obligations, implying that England players tied to IPL teams are often required to commit for the full tournament, leaving national selectors with limited flexibility.
Gilchrist asked Vaughan to clarify what he meant by a “deal” involving the ECB and the BCCI. Vaughan responded that, from his understanding, players signed to IPL franchises had to commit to the entire competition, describing it as a requirement of the tournament and franchises.
Warner then added his perspective, saying England and New Zealand appear to operate in a similar way when it comes to releasing players early for the IPL. He also claimed England’s rules limit how many franchise tournaments a player can take part in during a county season.
The moment that grabbed the most attention came when Warner said he remembered Bairstow being unhappy because, in his view, England players were permitted to play in the IPL but not the PSL. Warner described that imbalance as part of the debate around why the IPL was treated as the exception.
The broader conversation also touched on how different boards manage franchise participation. Warner explained that Australia’s arrangements historically included a revenue split model, where players received the full amount and Cricket Australia took a 10% share, as a way to secure buy-in for Australian players to participate in the IPL in the early years.
He argued that these structures helped major leagues grow into the “juggernaut” they are today, while also creating ongoing tension when domestic or international cricket clashes with IPL windows.
Warner pointed to Australia’s own scheduling headaches as an example, noting that the Sheffield Shield finals run late into April, overlapping with the IPL, which can leave state teams without their top players at the most important time of the domestic season.
Here’s the full video:
