In a week when the Victorian state government shelved plans to build a high-speed airport train link due to drowning debt, an Indian gravy train laden with (INR) rupees rolls merrily along, rightly oblivious to Melbourne’s infrastructure inadequacies.
Side note: I’ve been traveling, or returning, to Melbourne since 1993 and remain perfectly content with a red bus transferring me to a connecting train at Southern Cross station. Mr. Andrews’ new train won’t be lost on this scribe!
Additionally, the "Indian Gravy Train" is operated by an organisation that deals in cash assets, rather than insolvent debt.
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Agreed—The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a global phenomenon in franchised cricket, readily attracting players from practically all mainstream cricket-playing nations—Pakistan excluded!
If the IPL gravy train started slow and steady in 2008, it’s now careering along like a 2023 Disney rollercoaster.
And, reassuringly, for cricketers in this country, IPL franchise owners continue to fall over each other to employ Australian players. We can get to the coaches later.
So, what, if any, impact does this have?
Simply, it creates a false economy and tests the patience of the suits at Cricket Australia, not to mention the national coaches and their staff. Bilateral international series’ now wrap themselves around franchise cricket, sitting politely on the periphery, left there to question their self-importance.
The rewards for players are absurdly high, and the risks appear minimal. A move from eight to ten franchises now provides a comfy cushion to those players performing below their best. Retained or not, a new home is but a successful auction away.
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The 2023 class boasts 14 Australian players (actually 13—Jhye Richardson withdrew due to injury, and Josh Hazlewood is not expected to play until later in the tournament.)
Nevertheless, the group presents as a collective of legitimate game influencers.
The Mumbai Indians lead the way with three Aussies: Tim David (retained), Jason Behrendorff (retained), and Cameron Green (sold at auction for a staggering AUD 3.15 million).
Additionally, the Royal Challengers Bangalore retained both Glenn Maxwell and Josh Hazlewood.
Marcus Stoinis (retained) and Daniel Sams (sold) link up with the Lucknow Super Giants. David Warner (retained) captains the Delhi Capitals and has Mitch Marsh for company. Leg spinner Adam Zampa heads to the Rajasthan Royals. The Gujarat Titans retained Matthew Wade, and Nathan Ellis, and late inclusion, Matt Short (Punjab Kings) round out the Aussie crew.
There are 79 international’s listed in IPL 2023. Only four can play in any given match. Australian-born players represent 15% of the work-force. England have 16%—their notables: Ben Stokes (Chennai Super Kings), Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals), and Sam Curran (Punjab Kings). Curran being the most expensive player in IPL 2023.
A typical franchise list consists of 25 players.
So how do the Australian players align with their respective franchises' coaching staffs?
Ex-Australian great, Ricky Ponting, is Head coach of the Delhi Capitals. He has David Warner installed as captain, and Mitch Marsh as his go-to all-rounder. Ponting is in his sixth season at Delhi, and is assisted by Shane Watson (Assistant coach) and James Hopes (Bowling coach)—Ajit Agarkar and Pravin Amre also act as assistants, and Biju George is the fielding coach.
Trevor Bayliss is the other Australian-born Head coach (Punjab Kings). Assisting Bayliss is ex-Australian great Brad Haddin. Interesting to note the King’s have listed Prince Kumar as their (Side Arm Thrower). PS. any aspiring side-arm throwers, stick with it, tickets to the gravy train are available.
Other noteworthy Australian’s lurking in the coaching shadows are: Michael Hussey (Assistant coach) - Chennai Super Kings. Simon Helmot (Assistant Coach) - Sunrisers Hyderabad. David Hussey (Mentor) - Kolkata Knight Riders. Adam Griffith (Bowling Coach) - Royal Challengers Bangalore. Andy Bichel (Bowling Coach) - Lucknow Super Giants.
The IPL could, and probably will, hold the cricket world to ransom sooner rather than later. Cricket's best players look easy pickings for an organisation awash with money courtesy of their multibillion-dollar TV rights. It was recently speculated that Australian cricketers will soon have to seek permission from the owners of the Indian Premier League to wear the Baggy Green cap.
The league’s lengthening tentacles have already reached the Caribbean, South Africa, Dubai, and most recently, the United States—the last unconquered frontier in world cricket. And then there is the emergence of Saudi Arabia as a likely partner for the IPL.
The short-form economy has also caused a shift in traditional coaching structures. Gone are the long-established head coach and senior assistant partnerships. We now see a fluid coaching anatomy, with lines crossing at different points. Mentors have emerged: fielding coaches, strength and conditioning personnel, and then, the back-room staff, whose numbers would challenge the hands-on coaches.
The Rajasthan Royals sit atop the 2023 ladder; let’s take a look at their intricate coaching system:
They combine the Head Coaching role with a second title, Director of Cricket Operations (Kumar Sangakkara). Next in line are an Assistant Coach and a Development and Performance Director. Then a Fast Bowling Coach and a High-Performance Fast Bowling Coach—so they have normal quicks, then high-performance pacers!
Next, there is a Team Catalyst (Paddy Upton)—I thought this was a typo (analyst)—but no, Upton’s job is to bring the players together and make them like each other! Tough gig!
This reminded me of a quote from Gideon Haigh in one of his Australian pieces. “Casey Stengel’s famous advice to coaches was to keep the half of the players who hated you from the half who weren’t sure.”
Rounding out the group is a plain old Fielding Coach and then—wait for it—a Performance Specialist. Including himself, Sangakkara has eight coaches to call on. Some coaches I know would struggle to recall their names, never mind what it is they’re supposed to do.
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So, all aboard the IPL gravy train; and make your hay while the sun shines.
Or, if you’re like me and have a maximum side arm speed of 90 km/h, you should take the red bus to the connecting trains, head home, before finding a comfy seat to watch the action.
As always, thanks for being here.
PS. Next week we’ll look at who’s doing what in IPL 2023.
Yes but not nearly enough……..do you ever venture into AFL?
Incisive and illuminating Nick… what about an explanation of a side arm thrower?