Cameron White among big names in IPL auction

The good news is expected to keep coming for Australia’s Twenty20 sensation Cameron White this weekend. White, named on Friday as Australia’s new T20 captain, is expected to be among the highest-paid players in the Indian Premier League players’ auction in Bangalore on Saturday and Sunday.

White, who has guided Victoria to four domestic T20 titles, was also Michael Clarke’s deputy when Australia reached the final of last year’s T20 World Cup.

The 27-year-old White had limited opportunities for his IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2010, scoring 48 runs at an average of 24.00 in five innings.

A huge hitter of the ball, White could be looking at a million-dollar IPL contract.

The fourth annual two-month tournament, this time featuring 10 teams, is due to start in early April despite a series of legal and financial dramas.

Australia’s Darren Lehmann, Greg Shipperd, Darren Berry, Geoff Lawson, Geoff Marsh, Michael Bevan and Dav Whatmore will coach teams this year.

Berry (South Australia), Shipperd (Victoria) and Lehmann (Queensland) will skip T20 coaching commitments in Australia this weekend because of the IPL auction.

Only 12 players have been retained by their teams, with another 350 going to auction on Saturday and Sunday including 72 Australians.

The dozen players already assigned to teams include Australia’s Shane Warne and Shane Watson at Rajasthan.

Each team has a salary cap of $US9 million and star all-rounder Watson is likely to also attract a million-dollar contract.

Australia’s blond-haired pace demon Brett Lee, a popular sporting hero and recording artist in India, is also going to be among the main attractions in the auction.

Seven Australians including Lee and White have put minimum values on their heads of $400,000 or $300,000.

The other five Aussie “heavyweights” in the auction are Adam Gilchrist, Shaun Marsh, David Hussey, Andrew Symonds and Shaun Tait.

Lee’s manager Neil Maxwell says he expects teams to throw big money at a handful of superstars.

“Brett’s prime focus is to play for Australia in the Twenty20 side and the one-day side,” Maxwell told AAP on Friday.

“He’s in the IPL auction at a base price ($400,000) so we’ll see how that goes.

“I know there’s some interest in him.

“The strategies for the teams have changed.

“”Most of the salary cap will be spent on Indians and the best of the best, the guys who can make the best impact.

“Most are going to get smaller amounts than expected.

“The big players will make a lot of money.

“There won’t be as many of those middle-of-the-road players.

“What they’ve learnt now is the Chennai rule to buy the best and then fill in the gaps.”

Delhi’s Shipperd said it would be a nervous time for players and coaches.

“There are nine other coaches chasing particular players. It’s like squabbling over a house that everybody likes,” Shipperd told AAP.

The Australia team will tour Bangladesh in April for a one-day series which could mean some Australian players miss two weeks of IPL action.

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