England’s Ashes contingent will not be speaking to the media ahead of the county season after an intervention from the England and Wales Cricket Board.
The domestic season gets under way on April 3, with the traditional round of media days being held by all 18 teams over the next three weeks.
But those involved with England during their troubled 4-1 defeat in Australia will not be fielding questions, according to sources in the county game.
While Jacob Bethell, Ben Duckett, Jofra Archer, Will Jacks and Brydon Carse will be absent due to involvement in the Indian Premier League, the other 11 players are not being made available.
That number includes captain Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Joe Root, Gus Atkinson, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood and Shoaib Bashir, several of whom had already been provisionally offered for interview by their counties.
It is understood the ECB is keen to retain some control over their appearances rather than seeing centrally contracted players fielding an Ashes inquisition while with county teams. There is some frustration from the latter camp, who feel the attraction of big name internationals helps shine a spotlight on the first-class game.
The Press Association understands that players who do line up at the start of the Rothesay County Championship season are still likely to be made available for standard end-of-play interviews with attending media, dependent on performance.
The ECB has been contacted for comment.
