IPL: What are you worth?

With the advent of IPL, the dawn of the millionaire cricketer has begun. Andrew Symonds, M. S. Dhoni, and the aging Sanath Jayasuria are players boasting seven figure pay packets for their stint in the BCCI- endorsed events.

It has aroused interest in me, not for what the current players are earning, but what the stars of yesteryear would have received. If you compare what the current players are earning, it could be really interesting.

For example, since all rounders are worth an immense amount in 20\20 cricket, how much would they be prepared to shell out for Sir Garfield Sobers, the game’s greatest all-rounder? He would surely be worth more than Andrew Symonds, for his audacious and thrilling batting as well as his three-in-one bowling.

Imran would be worth a fair amount, especially when you consider his leadership value, as would Indian hero Kapil Dev, seeing as Indian players usually got plenty of money. And Keith Miller and Sir Ian Botham would be musts for their charisma alone, let alone cricketing ability.

Keeper of the previous era would have been hard, as none have the hitting and batting ability of the current crop such as Gilchrist, Dhoni and Kumar Sangakarra. But Alan Knott could do well, as could Rod Marsh. Dennis Lindsay would be able to hold his own, and Les Ames would easily pass the grade

Batsmen now. First of all, Bradman. It’s hard to say how he would have adapted to 20/20, but since he had all the shots, it could be reasonably safe to assume he would do well in the shorter forms of the game. If you consider that, he would be worth a considerable amount for the runs he could score, certainly more than Ricky Ponting.

Then you could take your pick from legends such as Sir Wally Hammond, Sir Jack Hobbs, Gavaskar, Graeme Pollock, and probably the man most suited to a game of this format, the phenomenal Sir Viv Richards, who would be given free reign to demolish fast bowlers.

Fast bowlers….ahhh…..now it gets interesting. You can pretty much guarantee that any West Indian quick from 1975 through to 1995 will be snapped up, especially tall wonders Joel Garner and Curtley Ambrose, who would be impossible to score off.

It’s surprising that a hero such as Glenn McGrath would be snapped up for so little. Dennis Lillee has too much class for that, as did English quicks Fred Trueman and John Snow. Ray Lindwall would be a good buy for his batting, as would Alan Davidson.

Wasim and Waqar…ooooo…..this is drool worthy. Wasim would be worth an absolute fortune, especially considering his legendary status on the subcontinent, and his zippy pace and late swing would make him hard to play.

Spinners in general should expect punishment. But I reckon Abdul Qadir, Derek Underwood, and Richie Benaud could give a good account for themselves.

Here’s my ideal team picked from these legends.
Les Ames (WK)
Garry Sobers
Don Bradman
Viv Richards
Wally Hammond
Graeme Pollock
Imran Khan ©
Richie Benaud
Wasim Akram
Joel Garner
Dennis Lillee

This team would be, in my opinion, a nightmare to face in 20/20. Who would relish the sight of Garry Sobers opening, with Bradman and Richards to come? And then having to face up against Garner, Akram, and Lillee?

As for my skills as a cricketer, I’d be happy to go for the price of free meals and a haystack to sleep in at nights. Anything for a game of cricket.