Black Caps IPL watch: Who starred, who stumbled
Arecord 12 New Zealand players were sold at February’s mega auction for this year’s Indian Premier League.
We’ve now hit playoff time in the lucrative Twenty20 tournament, with some Black Caps still on show, while others have packed their bags for home, or England, ahead of the test series.
But T20 cricket remains a big focus for the national side, as hot on the heels of last year’s World Cup in the UAE, where New Zealand finished runners-up, the next World Cup is less than five months away, in Australia.
So Stuff has cast an eye over how all dozen Kiwis have fared during the round-robin phase of this 15th edition of the glitz and glamour that is the IPL.
BATTERS:
Kane Williamson (retained for $2.8 million by Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Scores (balls faced): 2 (7), 16 (16), 32 (40), 57 (46), 17 (16), 3 (9), 16no (17), 5 (8), 47 (37), 4 (11), 0 (0), 9 (17), 8no (7)
Runs: 216, Average: 19.64,
Strike rate: 93.50
Team’s finish: 8th
The Black Caps captain endured quite the struggle at this year’s event. In what was his eighth season, it was statistically his worst showing. In fact, the Sunrisers skipper, who opened the batting before dropping to No 6 in his last outing before heading back to New Zealand for the birth of his second child, had the worst strike rate of any player to have scored at least 48 runs in the tournament, and was 97th overall.
Devon Conway (sold for $200,000 to Chennai Super Kings)
Scores (balls faced): 3 (8), 85no (55), 56 (37), 87 (49), 0 (1), 5 (9), 16 (14)
Runs: 252, Average: 42.00,
Strike rate: 145.66
Team’s finish: 9th Proved quite the bargain buy for Stephen Fleming’s CSK in his maiden campaign. Had to bide his time after failing in the first game, but then the left-handed opener continued to show his golden knack for adapting to whatever format and whatever level, with three consecutive brisk halfcenturies, as he further stamps his mark as one of the country’s most important batters across all formats.
Tim Seifert (sold for $100,000 to Delhi Capitals)
Scores (balls faced): 21 (14), 3 (5)
Runs: 24, Average: 12, Strike rate: 126.31
Team’s finish: 5th Wasn’t required to don the gloves. Opened the batting in the first two games, but that was merely to fill the spot of the latearriving David Warner, who duly went on to be the team’s top runscorer. Then had the misfortune of catching Covid, for a second time.
Glenn Phillips (sold for $300,000 to Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Did not play a game Team’s finish: 8th Despite being the top six-hitter in T20 cricket in 2021, where he played three matches for the Rajasthan Royals, and having a fellow Kiwi as his skip, he couldn’t get a gig, as Williamson, South African Aiden Markram and West Indian Nicholas Pooran had a tight grip on overseas batting spots.
Finn Allen: (sold for $160,000 to Royal Challengers Bangalore) Did not play a game Team’s finish: 4th (play eliminator tomorrow)
The 23-year-old is a serious talent – a T20 strike rate of 175.65 will attest to that and will be pushing hard for World Cup selection – but the likes of Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell were handy top-order options for RCB.
ALL-ROUNDERS:
Mitchell Santner: (sold for $380,000 to Chennai Super Kings)
Scores (balls faced): 11 (9), 9 (15), 1no (1) 1no (2)
Runs: 22, Average: 11, Strike rate: 81.48
Figures (overs bowled): 1-31 (4), 1-16 (3), 0-8 (2), 1-36 (3), 0-24 (4), 1-15 (3)
Wickets: 4, Average: 32.50,
Economy: 6.84
Team’s finish: 9th Third season at CSK and again struggled to make an impression, playing the first game then missing selection in the next five. Has shown big-hitting potential but failed to take his couple of chances at No 3, while his bowling, generally from first change, was its reliable self, having him in the top 10 for economy rates.
Daryl Mitchell (sold for $150,000 to Rajasthan Royals)
Scores (balls faced): 16 (24), 17 (20)
Runs: 33, Average: 16.50, Strike rate: 75.00
Figures (overs bowled): 0-7 (1), 0-20 (1)
Wickets: 0, Average: N/A,
Economy: 13.50
Team’s finish: 2nd (play eliminator today)
Had to wait till his side’s eighth and ninth games to get a first taste of IPL action, but it was a tough introduction, coming in with his side in trouble and crawling to 16 off 24, then next game being belted for 20 off his one over. Remember, he made a great fist of opening at the last World Cup, so it will be interesting if Gary Stead pursues that option again.
Jimmy Neesham (sold for $300,000 to Rajasthan Royals)
Scores (balls faced): 17 (15), 14 (12)
Runs: 31, Average: 15.50, Strike rate: 114.81
Figures (overs bowled): 0-29 (3)
Wickets: 0, Average: N/A, Economy: 9.67
Team’s finish: 2nd (play eliminator today)
Featuring in the tournament for the fourth time, for a fourth different team, but was essentially battling with Mitchell for one spot, though the Royals had two other overseas players – Englishman Jos Buttler (the tournament-leading runscorer) and West Indian Shimron Hetmyer – leading their batting charge.
BOWLERS:
Lockie Ferguson: (sold for $2 million to Gujarat Titans)
Figures (overs bowled): 0-24 (4), 4-28 (4), 1-33 (4), 0-46 (4), 3-23 (4), 0-46 (4), 1-33 (4), 0-52 (4), 1-36 (4), 1-29 (3), 1-34 (4), 0-21 (1.4)
Wickets: 12, Average: 33.75,
Economy: 9.06
Team’s finish: 1st (play eliminator today)
Went for one hefty price tag to one of the two new franchises, but the speed merchant has proved his worth in helping the Titans qualify in top spot.
Has been handed the ball as second or third change near the end of the powerplay, then often returned for death time. Played 11 games in a row before sitting out the next two, then returned in the last outing before the playoffs.
Trent Boult (sold for $1.6 million to Rajasthan Royals)
Figures (overs bowled): 2-23 (4), 1-29 (4), 2-34 (4), 2-30 (4), 0-48 (4), 0-47 (4), 0-20 (3), 1-26 (3), 1-25 (4), 0-36 (4), 1-32 (4), 2-18 (4), 1-44 (4)
Wickets: 13, Average: 31.69,
Economy: 8.24
Team’s finish: 2nd (play eliminator today)
Yet again an instrumental part of an IPL side’s success, following his 2020 heroics for champions Mumbai. Has played in all but one of the Royals’ games. Hasn’t taken any more than two wickets in a match, but has often been bowled out before the death stages where cheap ones can come.
Tim Southee (sold for $300,000 to Kolkata Knight Riders)
Figures (overs bowled): 3-20 (4), 2-36 (4), 3-24 (4), 0-31 (4), 2-46 (4), 1-28 (4), 1-10 (3), 2-23 (4), 0-57 (4)
Wickets: 14, Average: 19.64,
Economy: 7.85
Team’s finish: 7th
A ninth IPL appearance, with this his most profitable, under the leadership of former team-mate and new England test coach Brendon
McCullum. Usually took the new ball and often bowled one to two overs at the death. Was tracking around the top five for bowling averages and top 10 for economy rates before being taken apart by a rampaging Quinton de Kock in final outing. Not picked to bat, but this was rather undignified: five innings, two runs at 0.50 and strike rate of 16.67.
Adam Milne: (sold for $380,000 to Chennai Super Kings)
Figures (overs bowled): 0-19 (2.3)
Wickets: 0, Average: N/A,
Economy: 8.26
Team’s finish: 9th Cannot catch a break with his body. The 30-year-old speedster suffered a hamstring injury in the tournament opener and that was his campaign done.