IPL juggernaut rolls on

17 April, 2009

Shane Warne An Indian domestic competition played in South Africa, featuring Australians and big dollars?

If anyone had predicted that several years ago they'd either have lost all their credibility or be running the IPL.

The initial wow factor has been lost from the IPL, now in its second running, but there will be more than just passing curiosity in this year's tournament, which begins in Cape Town on Saturday.

How the competition is received in South Africa, this year's host due to fears over player safety in India while it is in election mode, is just one of many talking points.

Twenty20 cricket is tailor-made for night. It is the showbiz arm of the game. It's loud, there's bright lights, Bollywood stars and starlets and plenty of X-factor. What's more, it's great TV.

But the decision to make sure the matches are held in friendly hours for Indian TV means that every match will start in daylight in South Africa.

Several players have already bemoaned the expected loss of atmosphere as a result of the tournament being moved from cricket-mad India, but their six-figure salaries will offer some solace.

The big losers will be the fans and TV audiences, unless our South African brethren display their love for the game in a manner hitherto unseen in that country.

Australians wanting to watch the matches better enter the 21st century. ONE - Network Ten's new 24-hour free-to-air sports channel which is available only on High Definition TV - is the only place to watch it.

Even with the Australian side on tour in the UAE and several big names sitting out the competition to rest ahead of a busy winter schedule, there'll still be a strong Australian flavour in the IPL.

There's 32 players and coaches involved in the eight franchises.

Shane Warne, captain-coach of inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals, is back as are fellow international retirees Glenn McGrath (Delhi Daredevils), Matthew Hayden (Chennai Super Kings) and Adam Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers).

Shane Watson (Rajasthan Royals), Andrew McDonald (Delhi Daredevils), Brad Hodge and David Hussey (Kolkata Knight Riders) head a list of Ashes aspirants involved.

Then there's Symonds (Deccan), and India's favourite Australian Brett Lee (Kings XI Punjab), who will both be proving their fitness for England after undergoing surgery in recent months.

The biggest name, however, is Warne, arguably the greatest cricketer the world has seen since Don Bradman.

Despite being months away from his 40th birthday, that won't stop Warne from showing the young bucks how it's done.

Only Warne could turn the IPL's cheapest playing roster, which included once bitter enemy Graeme Smith, into a champion team. That done without the aid of a coach, such little respect does Warne have for such people.

Should he continue to star, don't be surprised if the champion leg-spinner again has to deflect rumours he's coming out of retirement. They are sure to surface in the build-up to the Ashes.

With countries yet to finalise their squads for the ICC World Twenty20 on the horizon, there's more than just big bucks on the line.

Players such as Moises Henriques, David Warner, Shane Harwood and Robert Quiney are several relatively unheralded Australians who can feature prominently in selections discussions for the tournament in England with strong showings in the IPL.

Australians in the IPL

Bangalore Royal Challengers: Cameron White, Nathan Bracken

Kolkata Knight Riders: John Buchanan (coach), Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Mark Cameron, Moises Henriques

Kings XI Punjab: Tom Moody (coach), Brett Lee, Burt Cockley, James Hopes, Luke Pomersbach, Shaun Marsh, Simon Katich

Chennai Super Kings: George Bailey, Matthew Hayden

Delhi Daredevils: Greg Shipperd (coach), Andrew McDonald, David Warner, Dirk Nannes, Glenn McGrath

Rajasthan Royals: Shane Warne (captain/coach), Lee Carseldine, Robert Quiney, Shane Harwood, Shane Watson, Shaun Tait

Mumbai Indians: Luke Ronchi

Deccan Chargers: Darren Lehmann (coach), Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds, Ryan Harris