IPL 2022: Irrespective of the hard fall from grace for Australia, they still remain one of the most reckoning forces in the glittering antiquity of the sport. Spanning from Sir Donald Bradman to the shimmering blitz of Pat Cummins, the nation has produced a bevy of icons across the 22 yards.
Currently, the champions of the world in the shortest format of the sport, the contingency stars the illustrious likes of a few names that made the miraculous ascent to the zenith possible, defying the mighty likes of India, Pakistan, South Africa, England and West Indies.
It hasn’t been just in international cricket that the Australians have flourished. From the Sheffield Shield to the CPL, from the BBL to the IPL, the Australian cricketers have successfully sprinkled some elite stardust across the fabric of franchise cricket.
As the mega-auction of IPL 2022 came to an end, there was some serious splurge behind the Australian names that blends athleticism, mindless carnage across the 22 yards and an eye for glory in perfect proportions. Let us take a quick look at the top five Australians for the upcoming and fifteenth edition of the IPL.
#1 David Warner
Warner was snapped up by Delhi Capitals for an absolute steal as his price was Rs 6.25 crore. The jilted southpaw of Sunrisers Hyderabad went into the auction with a base price of Rs 2 crore. The expertise that Warner brings to the table alongside the dynamic striking of the cherry makes him a fiery pick for any format of the sport. He had a couple of silent seasons but those can fairly be attributed to Sunrisers Hyderabad’s internal gulf with the Australian opener. He has already racked up the Orange Cap thrice and will be an impeccable addition to the ranks of Delhi Capitals, given his illustrious figures that read a staggering 5449 runs at an overwhelming average of 41.6 and a blistering strike rate of 139.97.
#2 Pat Cummins
The new Australian captain was bought back by Kolkata Knight Riders for a third consecutive season only at half the price he was bought last year. An experienced campaigner in both the batting and bowling departments, the current Australian Test skipper will be spearheading the KKR bowling attack. He has already bagged 38 scalps from 37 games at an economy rate of 8.24. The Indian fans has also seen him hammering a few big knocks, one of them that would remain etched forever in their minds where he took on the CSK bowlers almost single-handedly propelling Kolkata within inches of a staggering finishing line. Needless to say, but for the Knights, it is nothing short of a steal to bag the seraphic Australian expressman for just Rs 7.25 crore.
#3 Josh Hazlewood
The current face of the Australian fast-bowling trident, Josh Hazlewood was roped in by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a staggering sum of Rs 7.75 crore. A man hurling those nasty bullets from a height of 1.93 m is bound to instill fear in the hearts of the ones facing him at the crease. Not only has he got a decent bouncer in his arsenal, he also boasts of a toe-crusher that will either sweep you off your feet, literally or deracinate your timbre from the very core of the planet. His T20 figures read a staggering 85 scalps at an economy rate of 7.38.
#4 Glenn Maxwell
Maxwell was retained by the Royal Challengers for a sum of Rs 11 crore for the upcoming season. Coming from an edition where he failed to rack up a single six, he forged a legacy of dominion becoming the highest scorer of Bangalore in 2021. A fluent striker of the ball, a man with an exceptionally variegated arsenal and a fearless leader who makes miracles happen. His recent form in the BBL would leave the bowlers very scared where he managed to smash a tempestuous 154 against the Hobart Hurricanes in an inconsequential rubber. He has also managed to claim a few important wickets off late that will allow RCB with an option for an additional bowler in the crucial middle overs or even an unorthodox start.
#5 Jason Behrendorff and Mitchell Marsh
Being candid, these two names cannot be separately ranked. Behrendorff was bought by the Challengers while Mitch Marsh was roped in by the Delhi Capitals. Jason is a fine fast bowler who can chime in with a few crucial economical spells, especially in the death overs. More importantly, he has a knack for bowling consistently in the line of the stumps that makes him a tough nut to crack in the shortest format of the game. He played an instrumental role in propelling the champions of the BBL, Perth Scorchers to the mantle with his perfect blend of economic and wicket-taking spells. Mitchell Marsh is a decent bowling all-rounder who has already racked up 20 wickets in the IPL. He also has a fine knock of 38 as his best in the Indian domestic extravaganza and can be an insuperable pick considering his expertise in the shortest format of the game.
