David Leggat: T20, take 6: now with added imports

If you could construct your ideal T20 cricketer, what would he look like?

It's the sort of question teams ask themselves as they peruse the globe in search of players who can do a job in the shortest game.

There is an incentive for the six teams contesting the HRV Cup, which began in Hamilton last night, and that's a place in the Champions League late next year.

Otago were the inaugural New Zealand representatives last year; Central Districts went to South Africa for the second edition early this season.

Neither side won a game, which puts some extra spice into proceedings. If organisers are looking at rejigging a format, which comprised 10 teams in two pools, a combined record of 0-from-6 for New Zealand teams is not designed to make a rock solid case if they are inclined to look about to make the competition more, er, competitive.

The domestic T20 is in its sixth year. The format has changed three times. T20 is on the march, from relatively humble, light-hearted beginnings.

In February 2006, Canterbury engraved their name on the trophy, beating Auckland at Eden Park in a competition which comprised just seven games. Teams were split into two divisions, played two games each before the final.

A year later it was up to one full round-robin, with Auckland going one step better than the previous season.

Central Districts won the third, again same format; and Otago made it four different winners in four seasons when, oddly, each team played eight games before the final. It was a one and a half round robins.

Last season it all changed, a double round-robin, overseas imports, one per team, and loads of hullaballoo.

Now it's up to two imports per team per game although Northern Districts, an enterprising association, and Canterbury have signed four to be used at various stages over the 10 rounds.

Former Australian international Brad Hodge played the first of his four games last night; compatriot David Hussey arrives for the Auckland game on Sunday; while South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs and stocky Australian opener David Warner are involved later in the competition.

Canterbury include high profile Australian speedster Shaun Tait, fitness permitting.

Wellington have frequent England ODI all-rounder Luke Wright and Australian paceman Brett Lee; CD have plumped for two experienced England one-day internationals; Otago have gone for another couple of Poms, with lower profiles, but decent numbers from the past season; while Auckland signed up the most prolific run-getter in the English T20 competition, Hampshire's Jimmy Adams.

There are no guarantees with hiring short-term players.

Of those who played in New Zealand last season, the two best performers of the overseas five were Wellington's Owais Shah - 200 runs at a strike-rate of 145 - and Graeme Napier for CD, with a competition best 18 wickets at 16.33 apiece.

However the highest run-maker was Ross Taylor, with 383 at 47.87. Four others - Brendon McCullum, Peter Ingram, Neal Parlane and Mathew Sinclair, all New Zealanders - passed 300 runs.

So is spending money on imports going to guarantee strong performances? No.

Associations have two elements to consider: do they want marquee names who could put bums on seats, but with no certainty of stellar form; or do they want to succeed even if it's done with imports short on star quality, but capable of producing a solid return?

Napier was outstanding for two seasons, with Wellington then CD. Who had heard of him before then?

Whose to say that, for example, Wellington will get a far superior return from Lee than Canterbury can expect from Dutch allrounder Ryan ten Doeschate, who made his T20 runs for Essex last season at 59.2 per innings, with a stunning strike rate of 177.24 per 100 balls; or Otago from Darren Stevens, a 34-year-old big-hitting medium pacer who banged 369 runs for Kent at a rattling 149.39, and grabbed 12 handy wickets at 23 apiece?

You know who'll pull more punters through the turnstiles, but what about the end game of Champions League qualification?

For the imported players, the hired hands in this event, there is the lure of having an extra Champions League iron in the fire.

The same applies to New Zealand's best, such as Dan Vettori, Taylor and McCullum, all of whom have done a quick trip across the Tasman.

Play once in Australia's Big Bash and if that team qualifies the import is eligible.

Last season Taylor was unable to play for CD as his Indian Premier League side the Royal Challengers Bangalore also qualified. They had first dibs on him.

So the appeal for the players is obvious; there's an appealing dollar return for the New Zealand representatives too, although that pie gets split round the provinces and with New Zealand Cricket.

Eighteen of the 31 games are being televised live. Otago and Auckland will be on screen seven times each; CD and ND six each, Wellington and Canterbury five times.

The weather will have a say. Provincial chief executives will be doing a silent prayer. Washouts cost points.

A favourite? The TAB says ND.

But it could boil down to who gets the best return from their hired help.

TAB

* $3.75: ND
* $4.50: Wellington
* $5.50: Canterbury, Auckland, CD
* $6.00: Otago