• IPL

Bopara and Prior overlooked by IPL franchises

ESPN staff
February 3, 2013
Matt Prior was not selected in the IPL auction © PA Photos
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England players were overlooked as the Indian Premier League auction took place on Sunday.

Matt Prior and Ravi Bopara, the two England internationals who made themselves available for the tournament, were snubbed by all franchises - who instead preferred to turn to Australians with far less international experience.

Prior's base price of $200,000 (£128,000) was not met by any side, while Bopara's starting option of $100,000 (£64,000) was evidently not cheap enough to entice any interest.

At the other end of the scale, however, Australian spinner Glenn Maxwell was the subject of a seven-figure signing from the Mumbai Indians.

"I have never in my life seen this much money," Maxwell, 24, told ESPNcricinfo. "I honestly don't know [what I will do with the money].

"I suppose one of the things I'd like to do is give my parents anything they should like and spoil them a little bit."

Maxwell celebrated his selection by taking four wickets as Australia beat West Indies in a one-day match in Perth, although barely minutes after making their selection Indians staff may have been watching as Maxwell was hit for four consecutive sixes by the Windies' Sunil Narine.

"He is an upcoming youngster," Nita Ambani, owner of the Mumbai Indians, said. "He can bat, bowl and I think he is a great fielder.

"We had thought of some names before we came here and he was one of them."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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