The inaugural Women’s Premier League Auction has finally arrived.
The highly-anticipated T20 tournament gets underway in India next month, 15 years after the maiden men’s edition, with five teams competing in the 22-game competition across two venues in Mumbai.
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Each team is permitted to sign six international players, and the entirety of Australia’s T20 World Cup squad will go under the hammer at Monday evening’s auction.
Australian all-rounder Ash Gardner, who claimed her maiden five-wicket haul in the T20 World Cup on Saturday, pocketed a cool AU$558,000 after being picked up by the Gujarat Giants for 3.2 crore.
The highest bid of the evening so far has gone to Indian batter Smriti Mandhana, who was sold to the Royal Challengers Bangalore for 3.4 crore, which is about $593,000.
“We have been watching auction of men‘s. It is such a big moment for women to have an auction of this sort. The whole thing is exciting,” Mandhana said.
“RCB’s legacy is big, they have built a big fanbase. Hope we both can together build a big team. Namaskara Bengaluru, excited to wear the red and gold and aim for the cup.”
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who was sold to the Mumbai Indians for 1.8 crore ($314,000), continued: “I have always seen Mumbai Indians doing well in the IPL. I have the opportunity to be a part of MI and hope we will make a good time. It is a game changer for all of us. This will entirely change women‘s cricket not just in India. We all are looking forward to that.”
Unfortunately, not every Australian was picked up at the auction, with seamer Megan Schutt and leg-spinner Alana King going unsold.
Several other high-profile players went unsold, including West Indies all-rounder Hayley Matthews, England captain Heather Knight and England batter Danni Wyatt. Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu, former New Zealand skipper Suzie Bates and South African young gun Laura Wolvaardt also missed out.
SOLD AUSSIES
Ash Gardner – Gujarat Giants for 3.2 crore ($558,000)
Ellyse Perry – Royal Challengers Bangalore for 1.7 crore ($297,000)
Tahlia McGrath – UP Warriorz for 1.4 crore ($244,000)
Beth Mooney – Gujarat Giants for 2.0 crore ($349,000)
Meg Lanning – Delhi Capitals for 1.1 crore ($192,000)
Annabel Sutherland – Delhi Capitals for 70 lakh ($122,000)
Alyssa Healy – UP Warriorz for 70 lakh ($122,000)
UNSOLD AUSSIES
Megan Schutt
Alana King
HIGHEST BIDS
Smriti Mandhana – Royal Challengers Bangalore for 3.4 crore ($593,000)
Nat Sciver-Brunt – Mumbai Indians for 3.2 crore ($558,000)
Ash Gardner – Gujarat Giants for 3.2 crore ($558,000)
Deepti Sharma – UP Warriorz for 2.6 crore ($454,000)
Jemimah Rodrigues – Delhi Capitals for 2.2 crore ($384,000)
Beth Mooney – Gujarat Giants for 2.0 crore ($349,000)
Shafali Verma – Delhi Capitals for 2.0 crore ($349,000)
THE ‘ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM’ AT WORLD CUP
Gardner, currently in South Africa with the T20 World Cup squad, confessed the Auction was playing on her mind, but assured reporters the reigning champions would not be distracted as they pursue a third consecutive title.
“To be honest, I‘ve tried to not think about it but I’d be lying if I said I haven’t,” Gardner said.
“I actually dreamt about it the other night, which is quite sad but (also) quite funny but that‘s how much I’ve been thinking about it, unfortunately.
“It‘s a huge moment for women’s cricket and to see that the money that’s been put into women’s cricket over in India to ultimately have that global impact, to have associate players given the opportunity to play in that competition, is huge to take back to their homelands.
“For me, it‘s certainly not about the money side of things, it’s being able to go over there and challenge myself in different conditions … but my focus right now is on the World Cup and playing for my country.
“(The auction is) kind of the elephant in the room for a lot of teams and we’re trying to keep our focus pretty sharply on this World Cup.”
HOW MANY PLAYERS ARE UP FOR AUCTION?
There are 409 players, cut down from the 1525 cricketers who nominated themselves last month, going under the hammer on Monday, including 163 overseas players.
However, there are just 30 spots available for overseas cricketers across the competition this season, with each of the teams permitted a maximum of six international players.
Each of the five teams has a salary cap of 12 crore (AU$2.1m) for squads of between 15-18 players. You can see a full list of the cricketers up for auction here.
WHICH AUSSIE PLAYERS ARE UP FOR AUCTION?
There are 28 Australians up for auction on Monday evening, including the entire T20 World Cup squad.
Gardner, Meg Lanning, Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, Jess Jonassen and Darcie Brown are among the 24 players who selected the highest base or minimum price of 50 lakh (AU$87,000), along with New Zealand captain Sophie Devine and England spinner Sophie Ecclestone.
But those prices could skyrocket if a bidding war occurs.
Base price of 50 lakh (AU$87,000): Meg Lanning, Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Darcie Brown
Base price of 40 lakh (AU$70,000): Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Megan Schutt, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Amanda-Jade Wellington
Base price of 30 lakh (AU$52,000): Annabel Sutherland, Elyse Villani, Erin Burns, Nicola Carey, Sarah Coyte, Hannah Darlington, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Georgia Wareham, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Holly Ferling, Anesu Mushangwe [A Zimbabwean with Australian residency]
Base price of 10 lakh (AU$17,500): Laura Harris, Tess Flintoff
Upcoming IPL auction won’t distract Aus | 00:58
