LPL 2023: Best XI from Most Expensive Players in the Tournament
The inaugural auction of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) was conducted successfully on June 14 as franchises made some quality buys to build their teams for the fourth edition of the league that will be played from July 30 to August 20.
Ahead of the auction, Sri Lanka Cricket also made a mandatory rule that bound all franchises to spend a minimum of 85% of the purse. Earlier, franchises reserved the services of some marquee players such as David Miller, Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Matthew Wade, and Thisara Perera by signing them prior to the auction. At the auction, more than 350 players went under the hammer and among them, some emerged as really expensive.
Here is the best XI comprising the costliest players picked at the LPL auction 2023:
1. Chris Lynn
After getting unsold twice, Australia top-order batter, Chris Lynn got a buyer as the defending champions Jaffna Kings snapped him up for USD 50000. The 33-year-old Aussie has played a lot of cricket in popular leagues such as Big Bash League (BBL), Indian Premier League (IP), Pakistan Super League (PSL), and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
The right-handed batter looked fantastic for Adelaide Strikers (AS) in the 2022/23 Big Bash League (BBL). Racking up 416 runs with three fifties in 11 matches at a strike rate of 141.01, Lynn ended up as the fifth-leading run-scorer in the tournament. Currently, he is serving Northamptonshire in the T20 Blast. So far in the competition, the right-handed batter has scored 231 runs in nine games at a strike rate of 126.22.
At Jaffna, Lynn’s role will be essential to defend the title as the Brisbane-born cricketer might be provided the responsibility to strengthen the defending champions with his batting in the top order.
2. Chad Bowes
South Africa-born New Zealand player Chad Bowes became the costliest overseas player at the auction, receiving a contract of USD 58000 from Galle Titans. This year, he made his international debut for New Zealand against Sri Lanka in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20 Internationals (T20Is). The 30-year-old has played eight T20 Internationals, in which he has scored 157 runs at a strike rate of 125.60.
In New Zealand’s domestic cricket, Bowes is a renowned name as he has played a lot of cricket for Canterbury since 2015. The top-order batter started his domestic career with South Africa’s domestic team Kwa-Zulu Natal in 2011.
Playing for Galle, there are high chances of him opening the innings for the team. Bowes will also receive the support of Dasun Shanaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ben Cutting, and Tim Seifert to strengthen the batting unit of the team.
3. Sadeera Samarawickrama
Sadeera Samarawickrama will be seen in the Dambulla Aura jersey, this year. At the auction, the wicketkeeper-batter was picked up for USD 68000. In LPL, he has scored 297 runs with a fifty in 11 matches at a strike rate of 126.38. Playing for Jaffna Kings in the previous edition of the league, Samarawickrama played his part efficiently with 294 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 131.25.
In Jaffna’s successful title defence, Samarawickrama hit 44 off 27 against Colombo Stars to help his team lift the trophy for the third consecutive time. This year, the Dambulla team management will expect him to be at his best to help them play quality cricket in the upcoming competition.
The 27-year-old is actively playing international cricket and utlising his experience. The right-handed batter will back himself to do well for his new team. This year, he got a chance to play a couple of ODI games and scored 44 runs in one innings at a strike rate of 95.65.
4. Dinesh Chandimal
Dinesh Chandimal is a renowned name in international cricket. With his spunky batting style, the veteran has won a lot of games for his nation. In LPL, Chandimal is the third-leading run-getter with 810 runs in 28 innings of 29 games at a strike rate of 135.00, following Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando.
In the recently concluded inaugural LPL auction, B-Love Kandy bought Chandimal for USD 72000. With this amount, the 33-year-old became the fifth-most expensive player at the huge event. After getting a lucrative contract, Chandimal’s endeavours will be to shine with his bat and justify the amount.
The Sri Lanka batting veteran served Colombo Stars in the last LPL edition and ended up as the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament, accumulating 287 runs in 11 outings at a strike rate of 126.99. In the final match, Stars lost to Jaffna Kings but Chandimal exuded confidence with his 49-run knock.
5. Dhananjaya de Silva
Despite struggling to be among the runs in the 2022 edition, Dhananjaya de Silva made it to the list of the most expensive players at the 2023 LPL auction. Spending USD 76000, Dambulla Aura succeeded in reserving the services of de Silva for the most-awaited 2023 installment.
However, his overall LPL numbers are decent which got him a whopping amount at the auction. From 2020-22, he has delivered his services to three different franchises and scored 323 runs in 18 innings of 21 games, at a strike rate of 126.66. This year, Dambulla fans will set their eyes on de Silva as he will be expected to be effective with his bat in the middle order.
This year, de Silva has chalked up 105 runs in six contests at a stupendous strike rate of 147.88. Continuing his form, the veteran will now strive to produce extraordinary knocks from his bat and prove himself as a relaible player in the squad.
6. Kamindu Mendis
Kamindu Mendis became a notable name in the LPL 2023 auction as the talented batter became a recipient of an incredible deal from B-Love Kandy. Kamindu got signed for USD 60000 by the Kandy-based franchise and became the eighth costliest player at the colossal business event.
The 2022 LPL installment was Kamindu’s best season as he succeeded in impressing followers of Kandy with his match-winning batting displays. Notching up 260 runs with two half-centuries in nine innings of 10 games at a strike rate of 118.18, the 24-year-old ended up as the fifth most successful batter in the season.
In the upcoming competition, he will look to be better with his bat and cause trouble to the other four sides to help his team lift the coveted trophy. Mendis will enjoy the support of veterans such as Fakhar Zaman, Angelo Mathews, and Dinesh Chandimal to bolster Kandy in the fourth LPL season.
7. Charith Asalanka
Charith Asalanka will be seen in a Jaffna Kings jersey again after 2020. The middle-order batter became part of the Jaffna franchise for USD 80000 and ended up as the second-most expensive player at the auction. The 25-year-old is counted among the leading run-getters in the league, piling up 476 runs in 23 innings of 24 matches at a strike rate of 130.76.
In the last LPL edition, Asalanka became the third-leading run scorer for Colombo, scoring 242 runs with a couple of half-centuries in 11 matches at a strike rate of 126.70. This year, the youngster has played six T20Is for Sri Lanka, in which he has accumulated 162 runs in six innings at a decent strike rate of 142.10.
Appearing in Jaffna colours this time, he will carry the responsibility of providing strength to the defending champions with his aggressive batting. The star-studded batting line-up of Kings includes big names such as Shoaib Malik, David Miller, and Chris Lynn. Along such power-packed batters, Asalanka’s role will be to prove himself as a perfect addition to the squad.
8. Dushmantha Chameera
After missing the 2022 LPL season, Dushmantha Chameera will feature in the upcoming 2023 installment of the tournament. The talented fast-bowler got fetched for USD 70000 by B-Love Kandy at the 2023 auction. Chameera will be a key bowler in the Kandy-based franchise’s pace attack, along with Mohammad Hasnain, and Mohammad Haris.
So far, Chameera has picked up 21 wickets in 17 games at an economy of 9.04, and is the eighth-leading wicket-taker in the league. In 2021, Chameera represented Colombo Stars and became the joint-third-leading wicket-taker in the tournament, along with his teammate Seekkuge Prasanna.
The 31-year-old hasn’t played any T20I match since October 2022, but in ODIs, he has done well for Sri Lanka, grabbing six wickets in two matches at an economy of 5.06. Considering his current form in the international arena, the Kandy team management will want him to make a blockbuster comeback in the league.
9. Mohammad Hasnain
Pakistan pacer Mohammad Hasnain will be seen bolstering the fast-bowling unit of B-Love Kandy in the upcoming LPL season. In the recently concluded auction, Hasnain was one of the few overseas players to cause a bidding war among the franchises. The Kandy-based franchise splurged USD 34000 to rope in the speedster for the upcoming competition.
In the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Hasnain is a popular name as the 23-year-old has delivered a lot of match-winning performances for his team Quetta Gladiators since 2019. Racking up 47 wickets in 34 games at an economy of 8.63, the speedster is one of the most successful in the PSL.
Talking about his T20I career for Pakistan, Hasnain has scalped 25 wickets in 27 games at an economy of 8.44. Considering their bowling capability in competitive stages, Kandy will want him to wreak havoc on batters and win games for them in the tournament.
10. Dilshan Madushanka
Dilshan Madushanka became the most expensive player of the maiden LPL auction. Jaffna Kings released USD 92000 from their wallet and bought the medium pacer for the upcoming season. In his LPL career, Madushanka played in all three seasons but got only three games, in which he picked up four wickets at an expensive economy of 12.00.
The pacer’s record in Sri Lanka’s List A cricket is incredible as he has clinched 19 wickets in nine games at an economy of 5.46. In T20Is, Madushanka has claimed 12 wickets in 11 games at an economy of 9.80, with the best bowling innings of 3/24 against India in the Asia Cup 2022.
In 2022, Madushanka looked exceptional with the ball in the shortest format of the sport in national colours. Dismissing six batters in six contests at an economy of 7.75, the speedster exhibited his confidence with the ball. In the Asia Cup 2022, his disciplined bowling performance (4-0-24-3) helped Sri Lanka to outclass India in match 9.
11. Binura Fernando
Binura Fernando, who has played 12 T20Is for Sri Lanka, has proven his efficiency with the ball in his country's domestic circuit several times. With 94 wickets in 74 T20s at an economy of 7.08, the pacer is one of the best bowlers in the domestic circle. In LPL, he has represented Jaffna Kings and Kandy Warriors and this year, he will play for Dambulla Aura.
The pacer was recently signed up for USD 76000 by the franchise at the first LPL auction. In three seasons of the league, Fernando has notched up 18 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of 8.35, with his best bowling innings of 4/22. In the last edition, he powered Jaffna Kings to the title with his 12 wickets in five games of the tournament, at an economy of 7.10.
Fernando ended up as the fifth-leading wicket-taker in Jaffna’s third consecutive trophy win. In Dambulla, he will be expected to shine with the ball alongside his colleagues Lungi Ngidi and Shahnawaz Dahani.
from Cricket Appeal: The Best and Funny Appeals in Cricket History – HOWZAT!!! | CricTracker.com https://ift.tt/GPkWgqT
Post a Comment