IPL riches may provide some solace for Oz Ashes series failures

SYDNEY - Several players responsible for Australia’s dismal performance in the Ashes series against England are set to grab big paychecks during the Indian Premier League auction.

The auction for the fourth season of the tournament would be held in Bangalore on January 8 and 9.

The estimated sums members of Australia’s team in Sydney could fetch for the auction include 1.8 million dollars for Shane Watson, 200,000 dollars for Michael Hussey and 100,000 dollars each for Phillip Hughes, Ben Hilfenhaus and Steve Smith, the Age reports.

According to reports, 72 Australian players’ nominations have been accepted for the auction, which will be the most significant auction since the inaugural tournament in 2008 because only 12 players have been retained across the 10 IPL teams.

Fast bowlers Doug Bollinger, Shaun Tait, Peter Siddle and Stuart Clark, batsman Callum Ferguson and spin bowlers Xavier Doherty and Jason Krejza could also be playing for the first time should they be selected at the auction.

Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee and Shaun Marsh are the only Australian players in the highest pay bracket, with a minimum price of 400,000 dollars per season.

Tait and all-rounder Andrew Symonds are in the 300,000 dollar price band, while Bollinger would be worth 200,000 dollars.

Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn McGrath and Mathew Hayden are the few star players missing from the list. (ANI)