Cricket: IPL cloud on horizon for tests against England

Martin Guptill has an average of 112.75 since arriving in England. Photo / Getty Images

England have an initial advantage over New Zealand leading into this month's two-test series, after returning to the cadence of red ball and white clothing cricket in the Caribbean.

England lead the West Indies 1-0 with the third test starting in Barbados yesterday. The West Indies played the series without talisman Chris Gayle, who deemed his back capable of enduring seven weeks of the Indian Premier League but not three tests against England.

With seven other West Indians, including potential test players Sunil Narine and Dwayne Bravo, represented in the IPL, the sanctity of test cricket remains under threat in certain parts of the world.

New Zealand are also cutting it fine. Six of their test squad - Kane Williamson, Brendon McCullum, Corey Anderson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Matt Henry - committed to the IPL under the premise that arriving in England between three and five days in advance of the Lord's test would be sufficient preparation.

If New Zealand win both tests and other series results go their way, they will rise to No3 in the world and erase any doubt about their methods. Losses will raise questions about the approach to tours adjacent to the IPL.

Adjusting from the white ball on placid subcontinental wickets to the red ball in the fiery, green conditions during an English spring is a daunting prospect.

It brings to mind Stuart Broad and James Anderson tormenting New Zealand two years ago at Lord's, when the visitors were dismissed for 68 in pursuit of 239 in their second innings. The IPL contingent have been issued with English Duke balls to use in their downtime.

England, who are part of 'The Big Three', is a destination where test success can be a ticket to wealth for visitors. If England want to play an opponent more often, in a post-Future Tours Programme world, success is mandatory if New Zealand Cricket want to benefit financially from extra bilateral series.

The onus goes on batsmen Williamson, McCullum and Anderson to perform in conditions expected to seam and swing more than the subcontinent.

Williamson's played two innings for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, returning five and 26 not out; McCullum has the top average (40.42) and strike rate (175) among those who have played more than one innings for the Chennai Super Kings; and before his finger fracture, Anderson had the second-best average of 38 from four innings for the Mumbai Indians with a strike rate of 118.

Similarly, Southee, Boult and Henry have maintained bowling workloads during the IPL so they have a volume of overs in their legs capable of handling a test tour.

New Zealand might opt for Martin Guptill, who has been making runs at Derbyshire, at the expense of incumbent Hamish Rutherford to open the innings.

Since arriving in England, Guptill has scored 451 runs at an average of 112.75, including a first-class best of 227 against Gloucestershire.

Ross Taylor is another case study to establish if there are benefits to avoiding the IPL. Part of his preparation has been practising in the grass nets at Lincoln against Duke balls. The England tour presents an opportunity for him to find his test best.