The superstars who missed the IPL (South Africa)

1) Barry Richards:

He was touted to be the next big batting sensation but Apartheid ensured that the cricketing world became poorer since it has seen Barry Richards playing only four Test matches. He scored 508 runs at an average of 72.57 against the Australians in the 1969-70 home series.

Richards was part of Bradman’s dream team as an opener.

Richards will always be remembered as the man who might have been a superstar had South Africa played regular Test cricket.

Role in the IPL:

1. Richards was an attacking opening batsman. He had scored a century before lunch nine times in his first-class career. So his role in the IPL would have been to go after the bowling in the powerplay overs not necessarily over the top. Richards’ drives were authentic and fetched him runs on a regular basis.

2. Richards demystified the mystery bowling of John Gleeson in the 1969-70 series with consummate ease. In the IPL, it is very difficult to score against Lasith Malinga, Sunil Narine or Ravichandran Ashwin in the middle overs because of the mystery that they have in their bowling. Richards’ stay in the middle would have ensured that he kept the scoreboard moving without entering into the panic mode. Unnecessary hoicks and agricultural shots were not in his repertoire and hence he was the most consistent batsman of his era.

Ideal Team:

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Team Hyderabad has had a lot of problems setting up the big totals. Often that is because they never really had a stable opening partnership in any edition of the IPL. Richards’ inclusion in scheme of things would ensure a good start more often than not.

2) Graeme Pollock:

Pollock was perhaps the best left-hand batsman the game has ever seen. He had the rare gift of timing and had the talent to notch up big scores. His highest Test score of 274 was a South African record for the highest individual score for many years. Pollock was a powerful batsman with a wide range of shots in his gamut.

Role in the IPL:

1. Pollock was a two-down batsman. His role in the IPL would have been to bat till the 20^th over and help the team in either setting up a good total or chasing down the target.

2. To bowl occasional leg-spinners if the fifth bowler went for runs.

Ideal Team:

Rajasthan Royals: The winners from the first edition of the IPL have not really had a consistent middle-order since their triumph in 2008. This has resulted in poor batting performances in the crunch games. Pollock’s inclusion would have bolstered their chances of going into the playoffs and winning the trophy.

3) Mike Proctor:

Proctor was one of the most talented cricketers to have played the game. He was a ferocious hitter of the ball and bowled with a wrong foot. 41 wickets in seven Test matches and a batting average of 25 suggested that he was a superstar in the making. But South Africa’s isolation from international cricket ensured that the world never got to see him develop as one of the most successful all-rounders in Test cricket.

Role in the IPL:

1. To open the bowling and pick up early wickets. Proctor’s forte was unremitting line around the off-stump. He swung the ball both ways making it difficult for the batsmen to gauge his deliveries.

2. In the county circuit playing for Gloucestershire, Proctor had impressive scores. A 93 in 46 minutes, 92 in 35 minutes and a 57-minute hundred were some of his attacking innings. So Proctor’s role in the IPL would be that of a pinch hitter. The captain would love to float him in the batting order according to the match situation.

Ideal Team:

Mumbai Indians: Proctor’s inclusion in the team would help MI address their primary concern about the balance of the team. It wouldn’t have been a bad idea for the team management to utilize his hitting prowess in the initial six overs. His incisive bowling probably would have enhanced his team’s chances of winning the competition.

4) Eddie Barlow:

Eddie Barlow was a supremely fit cricketer who batted aggressively and without any inhibitions, bowled medium pace and fielded at first slip.

Role in the IPL:

1. To open the batting and take full advantage of the first six overs. Barlow was a ferocious cutter of the ball and often believed in ‘fighting fire with fire’.

2. To bowl medium pace and give captain an option of selecting an extra batsman in the team. As a bowler, Barlow kept coming at the batsman, giving all that he had. His role would be to bowl in the middle overs and put a lid on the scoring rate.

Ideal Team:

Chennai Super Kings: CSK team management over the five editions have roped in three-dimensional players. The team has blossomed courtesy of the all-rounders, which makes them the team to beat. Barlow’s inclusion would help CSK to be flexible with their team selection and include either an extra bowler on a flat track or an extra batsman on a bowler-friendly track.

5) Allan Donald:

Allan Donald rattled batting line-ups in the nineties with his sheer pace. He had a great control over the ball and often conquered the batsman with his immaculate line and length. He also defeated the batsmen on the tactical front. Donald was captain’s delight who always gave his 100% on the cricket field.

Role in the IPL:

1. To bowl a fiery opening spell and keep the batsmen in check. To pick up early wickets and put the opposition under immense pressure with his thunderbolts.

2. To come back in the second spell and bowl the lethal yorkers and bouncers. To keep the batsmen guessing with his variations.

Ideal Team:

Kings XI Punjab: Punjab’s home grounds are Dharamsala and Mohali. The tracks offer a lot of lateral movement and bounce. Donald would surely bend his back to reap handsome rewards on two of India’s most responsive tracks for bowlers in India.

6) Jonty Rhodes:

Jonty Rhodes revolutionized one day cricket with his athletic fielding. He saved at least 15-20 runs on the field which made a lot of difference in the final analysis of the game. He was a busy batsman. Rhodes had the ability to put the fielders under pressure and convert the singles into doubles.

Role in the IPL:

1. To field at backward point for fast bowlers and cut down at least 10 runs with his fielding. His main role in the team would be to inspire his team members to field better.

2. Bat in the lower-middle order and score practically off every delivery.

3. To engineer run chases with his ability to hit the ball in the gaps and put pressure on the fielders.

Ideal Team:

Pune Warriors India: PWI has goofed up some of the run chases simply because they got a bit nervous during the business end of the innings. In the last edition, they lost by one run against Mumbai Indians chasing only 121. Rhodes’ inclusion would surely help the side to win big matches and certainly inspire his fellow colleagues to hold on to their catches- another aspect that lets Pune down.

7) Lance Klusener

Lance Klusener was one of the most destructive batsman in the game of cricket. He had the propensity to hit a good ball to the boundary with ease. Klusener resembled a baseball player when he had a willow in his hand.

Klusener was a fine pace bowler. He picked up eight wickets in an innings on his Test debut and quite often broke important partnerships in ODIs.

Role in the IPL:

1. To bat in the last five-six overs and make a difference of 10-20 runs to the final analysis with his big hits.

2. To bowl in the middle overs by varying his pace and keeping the scoring rate in check with his cutters and other variations.

Ideal Team:

Kolkata Knight Riders: KKR would have loved to have a utility player like Klusener in their ranks. KKR have had power hitters in their line-up but most of them have flattered to deceive. Klusener’s inclusion would lend a fine balance to the team. His big hits also dented the opposition quite often.