The benefits outweigh the injury risks when England make prize assets such as Ben Stokes available for the Indian Premier League, according to Andrew Strauss.
England and Wales Cricket Board director and former captain Strauss concedes it's an occupational hazard that injury may strike players while away from national duty - but he believes the potential improvements they can make at the IPL make it a gamble worth taking.
"That is the slight risk you take when you make people available for a chunk of cricket that is outside the international schedule," Strauss said.
"Injuries are part and parcel of the life generally, but on one hand you weigh up the potential risk and on the other you ask what they can potentially gain from that experience."
Stokes returned from his STG1.7million ($A2.9 million) stint with Rising Pune Supergiant to hit a match-winning hundred as England clinched the Royal London Series at the Ageas Bowl on Saturday.
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The allrounder was able to bowl only five overs in two matches against South Africa, however, and was then rested in Monday's seven-wicket defeat at Lord's with a knee injury which has so far seen him undergo two sets of scans over the past week to try to identify its cause.
Chris Woakes, also just back from the IPL, sat out both Southampton and Lord's because of tightness in a thigh muscle - although he and Stokes, along with Moeen Ali (groin), are expected to be back to face Bangladesh in England's Champions Trophy opener at The Oval on Thursday.
Strauss confirmed that England's policy change this year, allowing several of their best players to take part in the IPL, will not necessarily be repeated at the start of each summer.
England's schedule will dictate the annual decision - and Strauss does not expect anyone to be playing Twenty20s in India when they would otherwise be on Test duty.
"I think that's unlikely," he said.
"When you get to the stage where you're missing Test matches to play in IPL that sends out a very strong message about where your priorities are - and I would be uncomfortable with that."
