Cricket: Australia series last chance for IPL impact

Blackcap player Kane Williamson celebrates the wicket of Shakib-Al-Hasan during the 2nd ODI ANZ International Series match. New Zealand Blackcaps v Bangladesh. Photo / Chris Symes

The first two Chappell-Hadlee cricket one-dayers might include an added incentive for several participants.

The matches on January 30 at Auckland and February 2 at Napier provide a chance to audition ahead of the Indian Premier League auction on February 4 in Bangalore.

The final match of the New Zealand-Australia series is on February 5 in Hamilton, so it'd be easy to forgive the odd bleary eye or early morning grin for those successfully contracted to the sport's most lucrative Twenty20 league.

While most kudos is credited to players' past performances on Indian pitches, a match-winning cameo could sway IPL owners.

Ish Sodhi was snaffled by the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League on the back of his T20 showings against Bangladesh. He could be in contention for an IPL deal after topping the wicket charts at the World T20 in India alongside teammate Mitchell Santner and England's David Willey, with each securing 10.

Colin Munro was another to earn a BBL contract - with the Sydney Sixers - after shining against Bangladesh. He scored his maiden T20 century in the first of two T20 internationals at Mt Maunganui.

IPL player bids can be fickle. Corey Anderson earned a contract with the Mumbai Indians in 2014, principally on the back of his world record 36-ball ODI century against the West Indies at Queenstown's tiny ground. Martin Guptill got picked by the same franchise last season only as a replacement, despite being in his limited overs pomp against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Australia in the lead-up.

The auction is renowned for Machiavellian politicking and the Herald understands this year's prelude is no different. Franchises try to throw rival teams off the scent by pitching for players they might not be interested in, hoping word gets back. They then target alternatives, who they aim to get for a bargain.

Franchises have a budget of 66 Indian crore ($13.4 million) to recruit 27 players. Most budgets are already locked into retention. Mumbai Indians have the least to spend ($2.4 million on seven players) and Kings XI Punjab the most ($4.7 million on eight players).

The Stephen Fleming-coached Rising Pune Supergiants have $3.9 million to invest in 11 players, while the Daniel Vettori-mentored Royal Challengers Bangalore can buy up to seven players with $2.6 million.

Several Black Caps will be in contention to renew contracts ahead of the tournament's 10th edition.

Of the nine New Zealanders involved last year, five have been retained and four released.

No current list of potential selections is available because of the chaos surrounding Indian cricket. The Supreme Court is set to appoint a panel of administrators on Monday to run the Board of Control for Cricket in India after they sacked the president and secretary this month.

Audition list

A first XI of NZ IPL prospects

• Retained
Brendon McCullum (Gujarat Lions) bought for $1.52m
Tim Southee (Mumbai Indians) $506,000
Adam Milne (Royal Challengers Bangalore) $142,000
Kane Williamson (Sunrisers Hyderabad) $121,000
Mitchell McClenaghan (Mumbai Indians) $61,000

• Released
Trent Boult (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Colin Munro (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Corey Anderson (Mumbai Indians)
Martin Guptill (Mumbai Indians)

• Possible wild cards
Ish Sodhi
Mitchell Santner