England itinerary opens up IPL option

England's leading players may have the opportunity to join the lucrative Indian Premier League next year following the confirmation of an early finish to their West Indies tour.

Many of England's players were unhappy they were unable to join the IPL gravy train this year because of their commitments with away and home series against New Zealand.

But the itinerary for next year's tour of the Caribbean has confirmed it will finish on April 4 - leaving a window for players like Kevin Pietersen to play some part at least in next year's IPL, running from April 10 to May 29.

It is a very early finish to the tour compared to 2004, the last time England toured the Caribbean, which did not finish until May 5.

Next year's itinerary will include their first Twenty20 international in the West Indies, which is being hosted at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad on March 15, only five days after the scheduled finish of the fourth and final Test at the same venue.

England will begin their preparations for the tour in Barbados, where they will play two three-day practice matches, before Tests in Jamaica, Antigua, Barbados and Trinidad.

Following the Twenty20 international, England will play a five-match one-day international series finishing with a day-night encounter in St Lucia.