Ashes hero Tim Bresnan was one of the six York-shire players who failed to attract a bid at the Indian Premier League auction in Bangalore.

Bresnan was instrumental in victories over Australia at Melbourne and Sydney during the festive period but that seemed to go unnoticed by the ten franchises.

England squad man Ajmal Shahzad, Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale, new signing Ryan Sidebottom, Adam Lyth and Anthony McGrath all went unsold.

It means that the Tykes could be at full strength for the start of the county season in April, although it remains to be seen for how long England will want Bresnan and possibly Shahzad to rest for after the 50-over World Cup.

England players Graeme Swann, Jimmy Anderson, Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott and Matt Prior were among those unsold, as were the likes of Chris Gayle and West Indies legend Brian Lara.

Kevin Pietersen was sold to Deccan Chargers for $650,000.

Former Yorkshire players Jacques Rudolph and Tino Best also failed to attract any bids.

Stuart Broad, Eoin Morgan and Twenty20 skipper Paul Collingwood will join Pietersen at the fourth edition of the tournament.

Collingwood described Swann and Anderson’s snub as a surprise but believes the duo’s limited availability was the reason they were not sold.

This year’s IPL runs from April 8 to May 22, with England’s Test players set to miss the run-in as they are due to report back to play at least one first-class game before the first Test against Sri Lanka in Cardiff on May 26.

Collingwood said: “They are world-class bowlers and would have done well at the IPL. It is a surprise but I think it’s down to their availability.”