IPL 2020: 5 unsold players who have impressed in Big Bash League

The 13^th edition of the world’s biggest T20 league, IPL is just two months away as the cricket fans from all over the world are gearing up for yet another season of thrilling cricket matches. The auction for IPL 2020 took place in December and as always, it was filled with surprises.

Pat Cummins emerged as the most expensive player from the IPL Auction while even Glenn Maxwell fetched a hefty sum. However, there were several big names from Australia who missed out on an IPL deal this year. Australia’s T20 league Big Bash League is underway currently, where many unsold stars are showcasing their magic.

Here are the 5 unsold players from IPL 2020 Auction who have impressed in the Big Bash League:

1. Shaun Marsh

Australia’s top-order batsman, Shaun Marsh surprisingly went unsold in this year’s IPL auction. The main reason behind that could have been his base price of 1.5 Crores. Had Marsh set a lower base price, he could have been signed by one of the franchises.

Nevertheless, the 36-year-old from Western Australia did not lose motivation as he continued to score runs in the Big Bash League. Playing for the Melbourne Renegades this year, Marsh has aggregated 449 runs in just 12 matches.

He has a batting average of 37.42 whereas he also has a decent strike rate of 124.03. The left-handed batsman has recorded three half-centuries besides striking 40 fours and 14 maximums. The IPL franchises may regret over their decision of letting Marsh go unsold in the auction.

2. Ashton Agar

Ashton Agar could not play the entire season of Big Bash League because he was on a tour to India along with the Australian ODI team. The left-handed all-rounder played for Perth Scorchers in this year’s Big Bash League where he scalped six wickets in nine matches.

The highlighting statistics of his BBL 2019-20 campaign are his best bowling figures. His best figures of 2/16 indicate that he is in good touch. Also, he has aggregated 49 runs in the tournament which includes one four and one six.

Agar did not receive many opportunities to prove his talent but whenever he got one, he stepped up and delivered. The 26-year-old Victorian had set a base price of 1 crore INR for himself in IPL Auction 2020 but since he is an overseas spinner, the franchises neglected him.

3. Alex Hales

It is surprising to note that the IPL franchises have never shown faith in the talent possessed by England’s top-order batsman, Alex Hales. The right-handed batsman has done wonders in the shortest form of the game yet he has never made it big in the IPL.

Hales has been a part of Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL however, he went unsold in IPL Auction 2020 after setting a base price of 1.00 Crores. The 31-year-old seems to have taken that as a motivating force as he currently stands second in the ‘Top scorers’ list of BBL.

He has scored 449 runs in 14 matches playing for the Sydney Thunder franchise in BBL 2019/20. With an average of 37.42 and a magnificent strike rate of 143.91, Hales has decimated the opposition bowlers in BBL. He has slammed 47 fours and 16 sixes in the tourney.

4. Jake Weatherald

A lesser-known batsman from Australia, Jake Weatherald has played with supreme consistency in this year’s Australian T20 league. The Adelaide Strikers batsman has aggregated more runs than Chris Lynn in the tournament which shows his fine form.

Very few fans may remember that the 25-year-old player was one of the six shortlisted names which got added to the auction pool on the day of the auction. However, none of the franchises went after Weatherald in the auction as he went unsold.

The South Australia player has scored 389 runs in 14 games for the Strikers, at an average of 29.92. His strike rate of 134.14 reflects his aggressive batting approach while Weatherald’s highest score of 83 shows that he can play a big inning in T20 cricket.

5. Ben Laughlin

Former Chennai Super Kings player, Ben Laughlin had entered the IPL Auction 2020 with a base price of 50 lakhs but the fast bowler did not find a buyer. He has been playing for Brisbane Heat in the ongoing Big Bash League and, the 37-year-old has taken 13 wickets in 13 matches this season.

Though Laughlin did not achieve much success at the international level, he has been a big fish in the pond of T20 cricket. The fact that he has played for three IPL franchises so far solidifies the aforementioned claim. The right-arm pacer has shouldered Brisbane’s bowling attack this year.

He has also contributed his bit in the batting department but Laughlin has been the brightest spot of Heat’s bowling attack. His best figures of 3/31 prove that he still has got the wicket-taking talent. Unfortunately, the Aussie will not get a chance to play in IPL 2020.