The IPL auction is now just a week away and with two new teams, there are plenty of roster spots up for grabs. This has also been dubbed a 'mega-auction' with teams only able to retain four players before going into the big couple of days, this means that absolutely everything is on the table.
Glenn Maxwell is the only Aussie that was retained by his side Royal Challengers Bangalore after a memorable debut campaign for Virat Kohli's team. With Kohli no longer captaining RCB there is also a good chance Maxwell will be putting on the captaincy armband for the upcoming season that will begin in April.
Marcus Stoinis is the other big name to already be picked up, he is off to the new Lucknow franchise along with KL Rahul. Jhye Richardson is out of this IPL instead focusing on his Test career, it would've been a tough decision after a 2.4 million dollar payday in the previous edition of the tournament.
There are 47 Aussies that have put their hands up for the upcoming auction. The players to throw their hats in the ring range from the big Test stars like Pat Cummins all the way down to an under-19 player in Aidan Cahill. Edge of the Crowd has had a look at who will likely be sold at the auction.
The Certainties
The following players will all likely be picked up in the auction.
Base price 200 lakh approx $375,000
Pat Cummins- The Australian captain is a certainty with his fast accurate bowling and lower-order batting. While he might not get a 3.17 million dollar payday, like he did at the last auction, he is likely to fetch a huge price thanks to his on-field skills and being very marketable off-field.
David Warner- While his last IPL was a difficult one at Sunrisers Hyderbad being dropped during the season he will be back with vengeance in 2022. Warner was the player of the tournament at the World Cup and will likely fetch a huge sum of money with multiple teams looking for experienced opening batters.
Mitch Marsh- Pace bowling all-rounders are gold dust in the IPL and they are often paid well over their base. The now-retired Chris Morris went for over three million in the last auction for doing a similar role to Marsh. And with him now being in the form of his life we may see some teams break auction records to secure his services.
Josh Hazlewood- He came back onto the T20 scene last IPL with accurate bowling upfront and bowling important middle overs as well. He took 12 wickets from 12 matches for CSK in the last tournament and will almost certainly be picked up by the franchise again for 2022.
Nathan Coulter-Nile- He might be under-rated amongst Australians but in the IPL he is seen as a bowling genius. Having taken 48 IPL wickets from 37 matches at an average of 22 he will be a solid pick up for any side in the auction.
Base price 150 lakh approx $285,000
Kane Richardson- With a mixture of slower balls and quick yorkers, Richardson provides dynamic death over bowling. He continued to show his experience and ability in BBL11 leading the Renegades in both captaincy and in overall wickets during the year.
Base price 100 lakh approx $189,000
Marnus Labuchagne- This is the first time Marnus has thrown his hat into the ring, previously focusing on his Test career. Today though he is secure in the Test team which allows him to take the next step in his T20 career. He provides both a top-order batting option and bowling, there will certainly be teams competing for his services through the auction.
Daniel Sams- Another fast-bowling all-rounder, he got his first taste of the IPL last year with the Delhi Capitals. Head coach Ricky Pointing has stated he wanted to keep roughly the same side and with Marcus Stoinis no longer with Delhi, there will be a lower order batting role up for grabs.
AJ Tye- While his IPL stats aren't great with an economy of 8.46 per over he does also average more than a wicket per match. His bowling has also raised in skill over the last year with his quicker ball pushing past 140kph.
Riley Meredith- A payday of over 1.5 million came his way in the last IPL, while it likely won't be that high this time every team will want an express pace bowler, and Riley Meredith provides exactly that.
Base price 75 lakh approx $140,000
Nathan Ellis- He made his IPL debut in the second phase of the 2021 IPL but things didn't quite go to plan only taking one wicket from three matches. That being said he would be an excellent backup overseas bowling option for a side struggling with depth.
Sean Abbott- Another pace-bowling all-rounder, Abbott just seems to go from strength to strength with his accurate bowling and big-hitting with the bat. Bowling overs at the top of the match and hitting at number seven or eight, he would be vital in balancing up a strong bowling lineup.
Base price 50 lakh approx $100,000
Ben McDermott- Back to back centuries in the BBL have almost guaranteed that McDermott will find his way to India in April. He hit 577 runs in the BBL at an average of almost 50, he will play a key part as a backup keeper or top order hitter in a team with a lot of anchor batters through the middle order.
Base price 40 lakh approx $75,000
Tim David- The rise of Tim David continues with him now dominating in the Pakistan Super League. He was picked up by RCB in the last auction but didn't get the game time he should've. His ability to find the boundary at the end of an innings means he will be an important number six through the tournament.
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The Contenders
The following players should all be picked up in the auction.
Base price 200 lakh approx $375,000
Steve Smith- Smith isn't the greatest T20 player in the world but does offer a lot around the group in T20 squads. That being said he has the ability to dominate attacks and is certainly an intimidating player to come up against.
Matthew Wade- While he had a great World Cup, his BBL campaign wasn't the best. Wade could provide a solid backup wicket-keeper position while having the versatility to bat anywhere in the order.
Adam Zampa- While Zampa is one of the best spinners in the world, he doesn't offer anything with the bat and with India having so many spin options Zampa may be passed up. That being said he averages 17.61 with the ball in IPL cricket and would be worth a punt from the IPL team owners.
Ashton Agar- Another spinner that may struggle but where Agar might thrive is also being able to bat well. In the IPL he would likely be a number eight but it does still offer something extra, the only issue is that left-arm finger spin can be very hittable.
Base price 150 lakh approx $285,000
Aaron Finch- The Aussie skipper missed out on an IPL contract in the last auction having previously played for six different teams. He will be looking to go to number seven this time around. He looks in good form recently having played well for the Renegades but whether a team wants to take the risk is uncertain at the moment.
Chris Lynn- There are a lot of strong feelings both ways about Lynn, while some describe him as a genius, some think he's lazy and divisive. If he can come off with the bat he would provide a huge asset up the top of the order for any side that wants to take the risk.
Usman Khawaja- He's clearly a worldly talent but unfortunately for Khawaja, he didn't get to play a heap of BBL while in the Test squad. When he did come back though he looked good, with a couple of extra teams in the IPL he would provide a great top-order option.
Base price 100 lakh approx $189,000
Moises Henriques- At only 100 lakh Henriques is a steal, he provides options with both bat and ball and is also coming off a great BBL season. He played last year for Punjab mostly opening the bowling and going at an economy of only 4.5 per over.
Josh Philippe- He's only played five IPL matches in the past but at only 23 years old could be a talent a team wants to invest in and take into the future. He started BBL11 very well but caught COVID towards the end meaning he couldn't impact the finals. As an opening batter and wicket-keeper, he should be in high demand.
Base price 75 lakh approx $140,000
Ben Cutting- Another pace bowling all-rounder that will be in high demand, Ben Cutting is experienced and offers a lot to any franchise that wants to make a bid. He also made the interesting move to open the batting in BBL11 meaning he could provide some extra versatility, especially to one of the new IPL sides.
Billy Stanlake- He's almost seven-foot and bowls at 150kph, it's impossible to think that any team wouldn't want him in the side. The only issue is whether he is fit in time for the tournament and whether a side wants to take the risk of an injury-prone bowler.
Base price 50 lakh approx $100,000
Jack Wildermuth- He proved through BBL11 that he's grown an immense amount of the last 12 months and as a fast-bowling all-rounder will definitely be in contention for a middle-order spot.
Hilton Cartwright- No one hits the ball bigger and further than Cartwright and he proved that in BBL11 by standing up with the absence of a lot of the Melbourne Stars big names. He also adds another bowling option that would be handy for a lot of teams.
Base Price 30 lakh approx $55,000
Ben Dwarshuis- He came into the IPL in 2021 as a replacement player at the Delhi Capitals. At 30 lakh he's a steal providing a key backup bowling option. A big left armer he will be popular amongst all the teams especially with him showing his batting has improved during BBL11.
Base Price 20 lakh approx $40,000
Hayden Kerr- What a season Kerr had in BBL11, he went from making his debut at the start of the season to opening the batting through the finals for the Sydney Sixers. It won't be a huge payday for Kerr but his 25 wickets at 15 and an average of 38 with the bat in BBL11 should get Kerr a contract.
Tanveer Sangha- The future of Australian spin, Sangha will likely be picked up even if it is just as a backup spinner. KKR would be the ideal destination with Sangha then able to learn from Sunil Narine who is getting towards the end of his career.
Tom Rogers- From out of relative obscurity, Rogers came into BBL11 and took all the headlines. He might not get picked up in the IPL but should do even if it is just as a future investment in someone that's a clear talent.
Nathan McAndrew- Once again the IPL loves a fast-bowling all-rounder and McAndrew fits that model to a T. He's quick and hits big and perhaps that will be all that matters for a team to take a punt at 20 lakh.
Jason Sangha- This would be another future investment pick with Sangha likely improving to a world-class batter over the next decade. We saw parts of that in BBL11 with him hitting a couple of 90's as well as taking on the captaincy with the absence of Chris Green.
Matt Short- 12 months ago he never would've been on this list but a BBL season that included 493 runs at a strike rate of 155 and eight wickets means he has put his hand up. He would likely slot into the middle order in the IPL while also bowling one or two overs.
Those making up the numbers
The following players will likely not be picked up in the auction.
Base price 100 lakh approx $189,000
James Faulkner- He wasn't offered a T20 contract with the Hobart Hurricanes meaning he missed the BBL, this will probably go against Faulkner who is coming off T10 and PSL form. He bowled well in the T10 but his PSL form just isn't up to scratch for a gig in the IPL.
D'Arcy Short- Short is no doubt a T20 talent and he did score a good amount of runs in the BBL, the issue was a low strike rate that will likely turn away many of the IPL franchises.
Base price 75 lakh approx $140,000
Jason Behrendorff- Behrendorff is one of the most injury-prone bowlers in the world. His recent form in the BBL is good taking 16 wickets at 19, he doesn't really offer anything different from many of the left-arm pacers in the world. Ben Dwarshuis has now overtaken him largely due to the batting he provides.
Base price 50 lakh approx $100,000
Kurtis Patterson- It seems like Patterson has put his name in out of hope rather than anything else. He's had only one good season of T20 cricket in his life and even then it was only at an average of 30. A couple more seasons like he had in BBL11 and he might get an IPL gig but not quite yet.
Wes Agar- He's fast but he isn't all that accurate he can hit a big ball but is probably a number 11. Agar just doesn't offer enough with bat or ball to be picked up in the IPL.
Joel Paris- An injury hampered his BBL11 campaign after a good start with five wickets from three matches. He hasn't quite recovered which means he hasn't shown enough form to be anywhere near the franchise thoughts.
Base price 40 lakh approx $75,000
Chris Green- Green would provide key experience and great mystery bowling but in the IPL it's just not needed with there being so many Indian domestic spinners.
Base Price 30 lakh approx $55,000
Matt Kelly- He had a great BBL11 season taking 14 wickets from six games, but realistically if he can't make the first choice Perth Scorchers line up there wouldn't be a single IPL team that's interested.
Base Price 20 lakh approx $40,000
Alex Ross- He bats well and fields well, he's particularly a good player against spin which will be important in India. Unfortunately for Ross, his role of middle-order batter is more of a power-hitting position in the IPL meaning he will likely miss out on a deal.
Jake Weatherald- He was dropped from the Strikers team towards the end of the season and much like Matt Kelly if you can't make a first choice BBL team you won't be close to a look in at the IPL.
Liam Guthrie- He's a great up and coming bowler who was destroyed in one BBL match going for 79 from four overs. He's one to look out for in the future but isn't quite at the level for the IPL as of yet.
Liam Hatcher- Another hopeful to throw his name in the hat, Hatcher is nowhere near IPL quality as of yet. Perhaps a team might want to take a punt though on a cheap bowler as a future investment it's doubtful as of yet though.
Aiden Cahill- An under 19 player who has thrown his name in the hat, Cahill would be hoping for a deal but it's unlikely. He is still yet to play a domestic match in Australia let alone in the IPL, the confidence of throwing his name in the hat at only 18 though is certainly admirable.