IPL 2018: Top 5 IPL players from Australia

The Indian Premier League is the most popular domestic T20 league in the world. Ever since its inception a decade ago, the IPL has been a hall of entertainment, excitement and controversy. A number of brilliant players have showcased their talent at the cash-rich event and many talents have been discovered here.

Australian players have always been extremely popular during the IPL. Several all-time Australian greats like Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Shane Warne, Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath have played at the IPL. However, there are some who have surpassed these greats at the IPL through their stunning performances with both bat and ball. Let’s take a look at the 5 best Australian players at the IPL.

#5. Michael Hussey

Michael Hussey is one of the finest batsmen who has played at the IPL. Despite being over 30 when the IPL started, Hussey played some fabulous innings right till IPL 2015 when he was three days shy of 40. He played a total of 7 seasons for two teams - the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.

Mr. Cricket scored 1977 runs from 59 matches at an average of 38.76 and at a pretty healthy strike rate of 122.64. He amassed 15 half-centuries and a century on his IPL debut against Kings XI Punjab in 2008. He has also taken 26 catches. Most of Hussey’s best performances in the IPL came after 2010. He helped Chennai Super Kings lift the trophy in 2011, scoring 492 runs.

However, the Aussie’s most memorable IPL was the 2013 tournament where he was the top-scorer with 733 runs. This is a joint record with Chris Gayle for the most number of runs scored in a single edition of the IPL. He will be Chennai Super Kings' batting coach in IPL 2018.

#4. Shaun Marsh

Shaun Marsh was the inaugural recipient of the Orange Cap

Shaun Marsh is one of the many cricketers who gained international prominence during the inaugural season of the IPL. Playing for Kings XI Punjab, Marsh was the inaugural recipient of the Orange Cap, scoring 616 runs.

Marsh played for Kings XI Punjab until season 10 and scored 2477 runs at an average of 39.95 and at an impressive economy rate of 132.74. Marsh is 19th amongst the top-scorers in IPL history. He has 20 half-centuries and a century to his name. The Aussie’s solitary century in the IPL came against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2008. Marsh has also taken 26 catches throughout his IPL career.

Besides 2008, another successful IPL for Shaun Marsh would be the 2011 edition where he was the fourth highest run-scorer of the tournament with 504 runs. Last season, he scored 264 runs for Kings XI Punjab, scoring two fifties.

#3. Adam Gilchrist

Gilly led the Deccan Chargers to the title in IPL 2009

Adam Gilchrist was probably the best Australian player in the IPL until his retirement in 2013. Gilly played for two teams throughout his IPL career- Deccan Chargers and Kings XI Punjab. The swashbuckling keeper-batsman scored 2069 runs from 80 matches, averaging 27.22 with a strike-rate of 138.39. Gilly also recorded 67 dismissals (51 catches and 16 stumpings) which is the 6th highest in IPL history.

Gilchrist had 11 fifties and two centuries to his name. His first century against Mumbai Indians in 2008 was the then fastest century in IPL history. His second came against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011. Gilly’s finest IPL in any form was the second edition in 2009 where he led Deccan Chargers to the title in South Africa.

He was adjudged the Player of the Tournament with 495 runs and 18 dismissals. During the same tournament, he scored the then fastest half-century in IPL history against Delhi Daredevils in the semi-finals. The Aussie ended his IPL career with a wicket.

#2. David Warner

Warner is the best Aussie batsman in IPL history

David Warner is one of the best Australian batsman in the IPL right now as he is the 5th highest run-scorer in IPL history.

Representing Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad, Warner has scored 4014 runs from 114 matches at an average of 40.54 and at a strike-rate of 142.13, amassing 36 fifties and 3 hundreds. Warner holds the record for taking the least number of innings to reach 4000 IPL runs, doing so in 114 innings, 14 less than Virat Kohli.

Warner is one of two players who have won the Orange Cap twice, the other being Chris Gayle in 2011 and 2012. Warner first won the Orange Cap in IPL 2015 with 562 runs and then won it last year with 641 runs.

Most of Warner’s runs and finest IPL performances have come when he jumped ship from Delhi Daredevils to Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Aussie’s finest hour in the IPL came in 2016 when he led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the title. It was also his finest tournament with the bat as he scored 848 runs. Warner has been retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad for IPL 2018.

#1. Shane Watson

Shane Watson is undoubtedly the greatest AUstralian player in IPL history

The former Aussie international is undoubtedly the greatest IPL player from the land Down Under and probably the finest all-rounder to have played IPL. Watson played for Rajasthan Royals for the first 7 seasons before jumping ship to Royal Challengers Bangalore for the 2016 and 2017 editions.

Watto is the 16th highest run-scorer in IPL history with 2622 runs from 102 matches at an average of 31.21 and at a strike-rate of 138.65. He has 14 fifties and 2 hundreds to his name. The all-rounder is also the 17th highest wicket-taker in IPL history with 86 wickets to his name at an average of 28.22. Watson has also taken 29 catches.

Most of Watson’s finest IPL performances with both bat and ball came in 2008 and 2013 while playing for Rajasthan Royals. He was adjudged the Player of the Tournament on both occasions but 2008 will always be the tournament that Watson will remember. He spearheaded an unheralded Rajasthan Royals to victory in the inaugural edition of the tournament.

Watson will be going under the hammer in the IPL auction which commences in the next few days. His base price is 1 crore. Whether he is sold or goes unsold, there is no denying that Shane Watson is the best Australian player in the IPL.