You want Kevin Pietersen? It’ll cost you at least US$1.35 million.
That was the base price slapped on the controversial England batsman when the Indian Premier League (IPL) announced its list of 112 players to be auctioned next week for the second edition of the Twenty20 competition that has revolutionized the game.
England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has been rated at a minimum of US$950,000 in what will be the first IPL featuring leading England players after they were effectively barred from last year’s tournament by national officials because of their international commitments.
PHOTO: AP
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who played in last year’s IPL, currently holds the record having cost Chennai Super Kings US$1.5 million last year.
“We are very excited. I think it’s important for world cricket and for the IPL that the English players are participating,” IPL chairman Lalit Modi told Sky Sports News on Thursday.
England’s centrally-contracted players will only be available for a three-week period at the start of the IPL, because of the first Test against the West Indies at Lord’s, and will be paid on a pro-rata basis.
The auction is set to take place in Goa on Feb. 6 ahead of the Twenty20 tournament, which runs from April 10 to May 29.
Other England players include ex-internationals Darren Gough and Dominic Cork, as well as current stars Monty Panesar, Steve Harmison, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Matt Prior, Owais Shah, Ravi Bopara, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, Luke Wright, James Anderson, Sajid Mahmood and Ed Joyce.
■W INDIES A v ENGLAND
AFP, BASSETERRE, ST KITTS
England’s preparations for the opening Test against the West Indies next week were spoiled on Thursday, when Lendl Simmons and Adrian Barath plundered centuries for West Indies A on the opening day of their tour match.
England’s bowlers toiled for little reward, as Simmons scored an undefeated 171 and teenage opener Barath made 131 to lead the A team to 343 for two when bad light stopped play four overs early.
England were left with more questions than answers about their attack, as Simmons and 18-year-old compatriot Barath took advantage of a docile Warner Park pitch.
Simmons, who has played eight one-day internationals, has repeatedly been overlooked by the West Indies selectors and the uncapped Barath is an exciting prospect highly regarded by former West Indies batting superstar Brian Lara.
England’s bowlers felt the full weight of their bats when the pair from Trinidad and Tobago put on 262 for the second wicket stand.
James Anderson took the first wicket of hometown boy Kieran Powell after 20 overs at a cost of 67 runs, but England had to rely on Kevin Pietersen to make their second breakthrough when Barath lazily cut to point and was caught in the Pietersen’s first over.
Before Pietersen’s intervention, Simmons, whose uncle Phil played 26 Tests and 143 one-day internationals, reached his century from the first ball after tea, when he tickled his 170th ball from Graeme Swann to fine leg for a single.
Five overs later, Barath raised his bat when he reached his milestone, lofting Paul Collingwood over long-on for six.
■AUSTRALIA V S AFRICA
STAFF WRITER
At the fifth one-day international in Perth, Australia, yesterday South Africa (288-6) defeated Australia (249 all out) by 39 runs.
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