Franklyn Stephenson
The all-rounder with a wide domestic and no international experience had everyone interested initially, possibly because of his mysterious delivery that has been a nightmare to deal with and because he can hit the ball hard. Once the bidding got into the range of 30 lakhs everyone except Bangalore and Bombay gave up and those two continued till the bid doubled in value and Prestige Bangalore signed him for
65 lakhs. Only time will tell if it was worth spending so much on an uncapped player.
Steve Waugh (
Avg - 30.27, SR - 72, ICC Ranking - 27.
Avg - 31.01, Eco - 4.42, ICC Ranking - 27)
The talented but inconsistent all-rounder would end up being bought by Hero Delhi Nationals for
40 lakhs after they had to fend off late interest from Tollywood. Quite unexpected for someone who may be leaving early in the end.
Allan Border (
Avg - 30.63, SR - 70.60, ICC Ranking - 23.
Avg - 29.28, Eco - 4.63, ICC Ranking - 64)
A World Cup winner and a legendary captain. Doubts over his availability and interest meant that no team was too keen on bidding for him after initial token bids but Madras have still signed him up for
35 lakhs, perhaps due to his role in the famous
1986 tied test.
Arjuna Ranatunga (
Avg - 34.34, SR - 76.56, ICC Ranking - 12.
Avg - 46.85, Eco - 4.82, ICC Ranking - 48)
More of a batsman than a bowler, the Sri Lankan captain nevertheless was the subject of a bidding war between Calcutta and Bombay Tatas with the latter signing him in the end for
25 lakhs.
Clive Rice (
Avg - 13, SR - 70.27.
Avg - 57, Eco - 4.95)
Don't let those statistics we said fool you, Rice was a feared all-rounder in his prime. However he is also 43 years now. Not that it mattered as Wills Classic Calcutta fought off interest from Tollywood and Madras to buy him for
45 lakhs, perhaps overpaying after feeling the pressure of missing out on Ranatunga. For their sake let us hope that he can still bowl well.
Greg Matthews (
Avg - 16.72, SR - 67.94.
Avg - 35.15, Eco - 4.28)
Recently retired internationally, his availability for the whole tournament was enough to make Delhi bid twice for him and get him at
5 lakhs.
Aravinda de Silva (
Avg - 30.24, SR - 80.92, ICC Ranking - 8.
Avg - 50.70, Eco - 4.94, ICC Ranking - 68)
After missing out on both Waugh and Rice, Tollywood Cricket Nagar wanted a player from this round and they made their intentions clear with a flurry of counter bids to ward off interest from first Madras and then later on Bangalore who took it beyond 50 lakhs but the entertainer ended up being a Tollywood cricketer for
75 lakhs. Very ominous signs for opposition bowlers if they can get Aravinda and Sidhu firing.
Imran Khan (
Avg - 33.41, SR - 72.65.
Avg - 26.61, Eco - 3.89)
As a legendary World Cup winning captain last year, Imran would have been the subject of many bids even before his enthusiastic declaration of wanting to play one last time in this tournament. Even if he was a very different player to his prime teams did not care as the bids kept flying just for his sheer aura and leadership factor. Delhi and Calcutta engaged in particularly fierce bidding but somehow Wills Classic Calcutta managed to sign him in the end for
65 lakhs after it seemed like the bidding would go on forever. With both Rice and Imran in the same XI they have a lot of flexibility if they can get these two bowling.
Ian Botham (
Avg - 23.21, SR - 79.10.
Avg - 28.54, Eco - 3.96)
Another larger than life all-rounder, Botham's fitness is questionable and his county contract means he won't remain for long. These factors did not deter Calcutta, Bombay and Delhi from engaging in a bidding war for him that Delhi won in the end for
55 lakhs. Have they got the better end of the deal?