Is a Twenty20 specialist the best job in the world?

By Matt Davis, BBC Sport

Retired, ignored by the selectors and even exiled – what happens to the cast-out cricketers?

Well, they enjoy the high life; a world of sea, sun and sand, luxurious hotels, private planes, nightclubs and golf. Lots of golf. The catch? They still have to play some cricket along the way.

Welcome to the life of a Twenty20 specialist, probably the best job in the world.

July in the Caribbean, winter in South Africa and Australia and then spring in Dubai and India, perhaps even a summer in England.

A T20 specialist racks up plenty of air miles as they jet around the world playing in the Caribbean Premier League, Ram Slam, Big Bash, Pakistan Super League, Indian Premier League and the T20 Blast.

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen is the 12th most expensive IPL player ever, once bought for US$1.55m (£1.1m)

Each tournament he plays earns him another six-figure salary and that is before sponsorship and stints doing commentary and television.

“What some of us are doing now is the easiest gig in the world,” he wrote in the UK Telegraph last year. “You turn up for a franchise, are well remunerated and then move on to your next contract.”

Lifestyle

When they are not thrilling the crowds on the pitch, T20 players make sure they enjoy themselves off it.

With a round of golf.