IPL auction- An assessment

It certainly didn't generate the buzz as it did last year, but the second IPL auction took place in Goa couple of days ago. Interest generally revolved around Peitersen (isn't it always) and Flintoff: who would go that extra mile to pay for their name on their team sheet.

In the end, Flintoff went to the Chennai Superstars and will certainly provide a boost to them even though he is there only for 3 weeks. The England player is in my opinion one of the finest bowlers in international cricket. He can get you a wicket when called upon and/or bowl with an accuracy that most batsmen struggle to disrupt. Add his ability to thump more than a few runs, his safe catching in the slips and you have an all rounder who is a team player.

The same cannot be said about Peitersen, I'm afraid who was snapped by the Bangalore team owned by Mallya. It seemed quite obvious that Mallya wanted the man to spark a team that was desperately short of players that fitted the format of the game. Going purely on heuristical thinking, I can't seem to think of many games where Peitersen has been a key in 20-20 games and his batting although statistics indicate is consistent, can certainly be questioned. Cast your mind back to the game at Cuttack against India in 2008, he raced to 16 off 8 balls yet ended the game with an unbeaten century that failed to push England towards a match winning score. Even today, many England fans would blame Bell's dismassal in the second innings for their humiliating defeat but me personally thinks that the blame should go purely to Peitersen's shoulders for the manner he got out in the first innings. Of course there is the Peitersen who led many counter-attack operations but it will certainly be interesting to see how he copes in working in a team that is more tuned to working hard as opposed to just showing flamboyance in every ball they try to place.

I was suprised Sakib-al-Hasan wasn't snapped up, especially since Bopara who I would say has done less in recent times got picked by the Punjab team. The non-selection of Stuart Clark, a McGrath-esque accuracy was also a shock but it has to be said that he has had limited success in this format. Duminy's current form certainly raised his profile and his signing should add more youth to a Mumbai team. While the bidding was more competitive for Mortaza I still think he should do well, however it must be said that his signing was more to boost fan base for the Kolkata team. Ashraful failed to get a higher price however at $50,000 he is a steal for the Mumbai Indians and I think this format will give him a freedom to play his natural attacking fame. Don't be surprised if he does exceedingly well especially at the price he was signed.

A final word and that goes on the non-availability of the Pakistani players. It is a shame. It really is. Especially when you consider that the winners of the first IPL, Rajasthan Royals depended a lot on Tanvir, it is sad that politics should interfere in sports to this extent.