Cricket: Kiwis yet to fire in IPL

Black Cap Brendon McCullum is averaging just over 10 in this year's IPL so far. Photo / AP

If statistics don't lie, then the New Zealand influence through the first half of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket competition in South Africa has been paltry at best.

With the Twenty20 World Cup looming next month in England, New Zealand's eight players have hardly set the competition on fire with their contributions.

Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, New Zealand's most expensive player at US$700,000 ($1.2 million) is slumming it with the mere mortals this season.

The New Zealand wicketkeeper blasted the IPL off with a staggering record 158 from 73 balls in the inaugural match last year and went on to average 62.66 with the bat at a strike rate of 204.35 last season.

But after eight innings for the last-placed Kolkata Knights this season, the headline act has become become a bit part player, averaging 10.62 at a strike rate of 83.33.

After scores of 21, 3, 1, 1, 0 and 5 he managed a season-high 35 yesterday as his team lost to the Delhi Daredevils by nine wickets.

Ross Taylor has shown a similar downward trend. He scored 149 at 37.25 from four innings last time but has figures of 67 at 16.75 after the same number of 2009 innings.

Bangalore Royal Challengers teammate Jesse Ryder, making his debut in the IPL, is averaging 8.5, having scored 34 runs in four matches.

Allrounder Jacob Oram is averaging 18 after four innings from five matches with the Chennai Super Kings and has picked up three wickets for 99 runs, with two for 27 his best return.

Daniel Vettori has taken seven wickets at a decent average of 19.14, with his best return for the Delhi Daredevils being three for 15 against the Punjab Kings.

Scott Styris has had just one bat for the Deccan Chargers, scoring 14, but took three wickets for 32 in his only bowling stint.

Bowler Kyle Mills has yet to get a start with the star-studded Mumbai Indians while former Black Caps skipper Stephen Fleming is content to remain on the sidelines, coaching the Super Kings.

Leading the chase for the Orange Cap for batting is former Australian opener Matthew Hayden with 289 runs from seven matches for the Super Kings followed by Indian legends Sachin Tendulkar on 209 from six for Mumbai and Rahul Dravid at 144 from five matches for Bangalore.

The race for the bowlers' Purple Cap is led by South African paceman Yusuf Abdullah with 14 wickets for Punjab, followed by Hyderabad's RP Singh, 13 and Sri Lankan slinger Lasith Malinga with 11.

Delhi lead the standings followed by Chennai, Rajasthan, Deccan, Bangalore, Punjab, Mumbai and Kolkata.

- NZPA