Kiwi cricketers grab the spotlight

The latest fad among cricketing fans, on Twitter and Facebook and in social circles are the Kiwis. As co-hosts they have heralded a refreshing air of confidence that augurs well for them and for the expectations in the 2015 World Cup. Their performance in the opener of the tournament against Sri Lanka spoke to the promise and potential of this team.

Even as the tournament is on a slow burner at this stage comes the news that Kiwi cricketers have been in big demand for the next Indian Premier League, which league every cricketer dreams of playing in.

New Zealand are co-hosting the 2015 World Cup, New Zealand is tipped as a strong favourite in the run up to take away the World Cup, a feat they have been unable to accomplish since its inception in 1975 in England.

The dynamics and expectations is perhaps best demonstrated during the auction night at the IPL where New Zealad fast bowlers have been in big demand. Left-armer Trent Boult led the charge and made his dream come true when Sunrisers Hyderabad signed him on for $814,000 with a chance to partner South African speed gun Dale Steyn in the tournament starting on April 15 in venues all over India.

Sixth in Test bowling rankings

Sixth on the world Test bowling rankings, it was still scarcely believable stuff as his price skyrocketed in a bidding war, from a reserve of 5 million rupees (NZ$107,000). Not only Boult but the Indians showed interest in other Kiwi fast bowlers too.

Coached by Daniel Vettori, Royal Challenger Bangalore signed on Adam Milne for ($150,000) and Mitchell McClenagham joined the Ricky Ponting coached Mumbai Indians for ($64,000).

Another first timer Kane Williams who is batting at his peak reeling out an avalanche of runs will join Boult at Hyderabad after he was sold for $129.000, which appeared a bargain for the team's Australian coach Tom Moody.

Fifth New Zealander to be signed on

The fifth New Zealander to be signed on was all-rounder Jimmy Neesham ($107,000 to Kolkata). Thus the overall NZ contingent is nine with Brendon McCullum, Matt Henri (Chennai), Corey Anderson (Mumbai) and Tim Southee (Rajasthan) were retained.

Sunrisers Hyderabad were on purchasing spree buying up former England Captain Kevin Pietersen, England's present Captain in the World Cup Eoin Morgan and all-rounder Ravi Bopara, with Steyn and David Warner already playing for them.

With Pietersen still in demand, it is inexplicable why he is not in Morgan's team on this Cup winning expedition. England got thrashed by Australia in the first game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and had Pietersen been in the team he would have bolstered it.

No team showed interest

No team showed interest for wicket keeper batsman Luke Ronchi and right hand batsman Ross Taylor. But they can still come into the frame in the second round as franchises reassess their funds.

Speaking to Mike Geety of 'The DOMINION POST' Boult said: 'It was pretty exciting there for a couple of minutes. You could imagine sitting around a computer screen with a couple of mates and not really knowing what was going to happen.

'I don't know how my confidence levels were, it was just a pretty unique experience. It's something I felt I had no control over. I put my name into an auction a couple of months ago then you just let it happen.

'The guys were pretty elated for me. Everyone's pretty close and tight knit and it was pretty special just to share it with a couple of mates and go through something like that because it is once in a lifetime thing'.

Marriage offers for 'catcher'

Innovative advertising has no bounds! Remember the Tui Beer Brand created 'Catch a million' story in this column last Sunday? Well the cricket fan who took the catch can pocket $100,000 (NZD) cash or share it with others if they too take a catch.

This promotion by the sponsors of the BLACKCPS, has evoked tremendous interest with cricket fans at every venue sporting a Tui Brand t-shirt and eagerly awaiting a six to be hit to catch it and be in the running to win or either share the big prize money.

The guy who took the catch that was hit for six by Kane Williamson during the run spree by New Zealand in the opening game of the 2015 World Cup at the Hagley Stadium in Christchurch is Sunjay Ganda from Canterbury.

Ganda was among thousands of orange-clad fans hoping for an opportunity to cash in on the Tui Catch a Million promotion. He took the catch made harder by a diving rival spectator.

At the centre of hugs

Later Ganda was at the centre of hugs, high-fives and selfies, while one woman had jokingly asked him to marry her. The catcher is married and is a father of two children and said that the catch felt 'very surreal'.

This is how he described the catch: 'I saw it come straight off the bat, out of the trees and watched it all the way into the sky. I knew I had to catch it with one hand so I only put one out'. Ganda has his mate to thank for buying him a T-shirt.

A Development Manager for Canterbury Hockey, he played cricket for Christchurch Club Sydenham up till two years ago when family became the number one commitment.

For every stage the New Zealand cricket team reach, the prize pool is increased, with the maximum being $1 million if they win the final. Ganda currently stands to make $250,000 but could potentially pocket $1 million.

Zimbabwe has been in the news for many years on the political front, but now comes a sobering quote from Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

'Cricket? It civilizes people and creates good gentlemen. I want everyone to play cricket in Zimbabwe. I want ours to be a nation of gentlemen'.

By the way enjoy life now. It has an expiry date on it.

[email protected]