Kiwi pair tops IPL prices

Big-hitting Kiwi batsmen Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson headline the top talent available for next week’s Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket auction.

The Twenty20 guns feature in a group of nine players with the highest base price of 200 lakh rupees (NZ$401,900), which also includes Australian batsmen Shaun Marsh and Darcy Short and Sri Lankans Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga.

McCullum and Anderson are two of 13 New Zealand cricketers, who were available in the shortlist for the December 18 auction.

McCullum played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in this year’s IPL, but was released by the team last month after having a lean tournament.

Anderson, who was called into Bangalore’s squad during the tournament after injuries hit, was also cut after a tough run where he hit just 17 runs and took three wickets at an average of 38.33.

The nine Black Caps retained by their franchises include Tim Southee (Bangalore), Colin de Grandhomme (Bangalore), Mitchell McClenaghan (Mumbai), Adam Milne (Mumbai), Trent Boult (Delhi), Colin Munro (Delhi), Kane Williamson (Hyderabad), Mitchell Santner (Chennai), and Ish Sodhi (Rajasthan).

Kiwis available in IPL auction: 200 lakh rupees (NZ$401,900)

Brendon McCullum – batsman Corey Anderson – allrounder

100 lakh rupees (NZ$200,980)

Martin Guptill – batsman Lockie Ferguson – fast bowler

75 lakh rupees (NZ$150,735)

Tickner – fast bowler Luke Ronchi – wicketkeeper James Neesham – allrounder Matt Henry – fast bowler

50 lakh rupees (NZ$100,490)

Glenn Phillips – batsman Anton Devcich – batsman Doug Bracewell – allrounder Seth Rance – fast bowler Neil Wagner – fast bowler

20 lakh rupees (NZ$40,196)

Blair