Sorry ending for superb Aussies

Australia's best cricketers were ever-present among the highlight reels of IPL7, however the final between Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab didn't go according to plan for the Green-and-Gold contingent. 

Captain George Bailey, and star performers Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Johnson endured a night to forget at Bangalore's Eden Gardens, while KKR's Aussie pair Pat Cummins and Chris Lynn enjoyed their side's thrilling three-wicket win from the sidelines. 

Here's how the Australian brigade finished up: 

George Bailey – Kings XI Punjab

Handed the captaincy honours for his new team, Bailey showed the sort of leadership nous and strategic thinking that has made him such an impressive leader in the 20-over game with Australia. Didn’t spend a great deal of time at the crease this tournament, but will be disappointed he failed to deliver at the business end. 

Best knock: 40 not out (13) v Chennai Super Kings

Image Id: ~/media/3381DE13A0E2427EB92149FBCD84C9EE

Glenn Maxwell – Kings XI Punjab

Maxwell became a superstar on the subcontinent in IPL7 and it isn't difficult to see why. Ultimately missed out on the orange cap for the most runs in the tournament, but hit more sixes than anyone and proved almost impossible to bowl to when he'd found his groove. His form fell away alarmingly in the second half of the tournament, with just 35 runs in his last six innings, including a golden duck in the final.

Best knock: 90 (38) v Chennai Super Kings

Image Id: ~/media/CD116F42F1DC40268C78A12739CD7748

Mitchell Johnson – Kings XI Punjab

Australia's miracle man over the past six months generously offered his considerable talent - and menace - to IPL7. While others may have had better numbers, Johnson's reputation alone struck fear into plenty of opposition batsmen, and his name would have to appear at the top of the list labelled: 'bowler you'd least like to face'. Took two wickets in the final but unfortunately his final offering – a leg-side full toss – was smashed for a six at the death. 

Best spell: 2-19 (4) v Royal Challengers Bangalore

Image Id: ~/media/6487A986247842E49FFBD9C393AE1599

Shaun Marsh – Kings XI Punjab

Marsh had to bide his time for a hit, which gives an indication of the effectiveness of the Kings’ batting order in IPL7. His two innings of 30 and 40 provided only a glimpse of the man who has shone in IPL season past.

Best knock: 40 (35) v Rajasthan Royals

Image Id: ~/media/1CAF57BFC9864449BA0064A8BDDC7A30

Mike Hussey – Mumbai Indians

Dropped four matches into this campaign, it would've been easy for Mr Cricket to shrug his shoulders and quietly slide into retirement. But Hussey has never done things the easy way. Upon his recall, he turned the fortunes of Mumbai around, adding his experience - and a couple of half-centuries - to put some steel back into the reigning champs' ultimately unsuccessful title defence.

Best knock: 56 (33) v Delhi Daredevils

Image Id: ~/media/B14621A8307347FD916DA9571193986A

Ben Dunk – Mumbai Indians

A stunning KFC T20 Big Bash League campaign for the Hobart Hurricanes was too good to ignore for Mumbai, picking up the left-hander on the cheap for IPL 7. His opportunity came at the expense of fellow Australian Mike Hussey, and like his predecessor, he failed to take his chance the first time around. 

Best knock: 20 (17) v Sunrisers Hyderabad

Image Id: ~/media/EAA1BDB82860495BB43259033D4C442F

Josh Hazlewood – Mumbai Indians

Hazlewood didn’t feature in IPL7, but will doubtless benefit from a season practising alongside some of the world’s best cricketers.

Patrick Cummins – Kolkata Knight Riders

A benchwarmer for most of the tournament, but when Cummins did get a crack he made the most of it, starting with a wicket-maiden against CSK.

Best spell: 1-29 v Chennai Super Kings

Image Id: ~/media/3C223A931E1140AA824EF3C3975A97A5

Chris Lynn – Kolkata Knight Riders

If nothing else, Chris Lynn’s IPL season will be remembered for taking a screaming catch on the boundary that sent the internet into meltdown. Also scored a lightning 45, but with few batting spots available Lynn found himself sitting next to Cummins for most of the competition.

Best knock: 45 (31) v Royal Challengers Bangalore

Image Id: ~/media/D64944622CB84D3FAAEA2953DED7B642

Ben Hilfenhaus – Chennai Super Kings

Hilfenhaus didn't feature in the back end of the competition, despite enjoying reasonable returns throughout much of IPL7. His delivery to dismiss Mike Hussey early in the IPL was one of the wickets of the tournament.

Best spell: 2-32 (4) v Sunrisers Hyderabad 

Image Id: ~/media/29C5D08F19864FD1AAFE33C7C90C6DBF

David Hussey – Chennai Super Kings

Signed by CSK midway through the tournament, Hussey was thrown in the deep end immediately, being handed the task of preventing Yuvraj Singh from scoring 10 from the final over in his side's match against RCB. He failed on that front, but nonetheless impressed with an assured 25 and a couple of wickets. Against Hyderabad in CSK's next match, Hussey really found his feet, blasting a couple of sixes in a whirlwind unbeaten 50 against Hyderabad.

Best match: 50 not out (33) v Sunrisers Hyderabad

Image Id: ~/media/273AFA307168417EAA9F918932A00B3A

John Hastings – Chennai Super Kings

The Duke didn't get a game in IPL7 until last week, when he took on state team-mate Aaron Finch and the rest of the Sunrisers Hyderabad XI in a high-scoring defeat in Ranchi. Dismissed a rampant David Warner in the same match, but will be disappointed he didn't see more action. 

Nathan Coulter-Nile – Delhi Daredevils

A promising start to IPL 7 was cut short in only his second match, injuring his hamstring sliding for a ball in the first over. Coutler-Nile looked to be a steal at the auction, producing 2-27 from four over in his only match, promising much more with both and ball.

Best spell: 2-27 (4) v Kolkata Knight Riders

Image Id: ~/media/7A7F581AB5F74C75BF47D18E81B033B7

Mitchell Starc – Royal Challengers Bangalore

Leading the attack for the Royal Challengers, Starc was vicious with the new ball and deadly later in the innings. Called upon by captain Virat Kohli to bowl the final overs, Starcs’s inswinging yorkers proved impossible to manipulate when quick runs were in high demand.

Best spell: 2-21 (4) v Sunrisers Hyderabad

Image Id: ~/media/E09F4568BC1B44E1A14C23E80463B06E

Shane Watson – Rajasthan Royals

Carrying a reputation as broad as his shoulders, Watson won’t be completely happy with his output this season. A dual IPL MVP, Watson’s modest numbers don’t stack up kindly to his previous campaigns. Still, he’s taken a hat-trick, batted well and led his side to a top-four spot.

Best match: 31 (20) & 3-21 (4) v Kolkata Knight Riders

Image Id: ~/media/89E95BF340DF4409BBAE2A4C5C3A22A2

Steve Smith – Rajasthan Royals

Used as a lower-order finisher by captain Watson, Smith was electric at the crease in IPL7. His partnership with James Faulkner against RCB to chase down a huge total from nowhere shows just how much confidence the New South Welshman is playing with. Identified as Michael Clarke’s heir apparent, Smith has done himself no harm with another sensational season.

Best knock: 48 not out (21) v Royal Challengers Bangalore

Image Id: ~/media/7B9189D5454F4D39B08D954F19BA1B4A

James Faulkner – Rajasthan Royals

A revelation for the Royals last year, Faulkner’s return with the ball hasn’t matched his deeds with the bat. No target is safe when the Tasmanian is at the crease, and he added another chapter to his increasing volume of impossible run chases when he and Smith plundered Bangalore.

Best match: 1-42 (4) & 41 not out (17) v Royal Challengers Bangalore

Image Id: ~/media/F385D1A1C2034E82B5C926A1920ADC25

Brad Hodge – Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan, like Punjab, are blessed with a deep batting list, so deep that one of the greatest run scorers in T20 cricket history sits on the sideline. Hodge’s experience around the group is paying dividends as the Royal’s young batsmen continue to step up. Got a few opportunities late in the tournament and a couple of late-innings cameos supplied evidence that the old dog has still got it. 

Best knock: 40 (30) v Mumbai Indians

Image Id: ~/media/FD848FE386F547B4925B19FCC90552CA

Kane Richardson – Rajasthan Royals

Bought for a motza last season by the now defunct Pune Warriors, Richardson this year lived up to his high price tag for the Royals. The Strikers fast man revelled in his role with the new ball, constantly among the top-order wickets. He ripped open Bangalore’s top-order when they crumbled for 70, and has formed strong partnerships with New Zealand’s Tim Southee and Faulkner.

Best spell: 2-18 (4) v Royal Challengers Bangalore

Image Id: ~/media/DCDE57DD19F545139904D3E29EE5C0B2

Ben Cutting – Rajasthan Royals

Just the one game for Cutting, but what a game! Belts a 101m six, takes a great catch (after dropping a sitter), gets a wicket and wins the game. Pity Rajasthan are flying otherwise we might have seen more of the Heat allrounder. 

Best spell: 1-31 v Delhi Daredevils

Image Id: ~/media/FF571C9CE5E24B9BB2E43A1C9D087198

David Warner – Sunrisers Hyderabad

Warner’s purple patch of form continued into the IPL, leading the way for the Sunrisers. Used mainly in the middle order by coach Tom Moody, calls for Warner to bat at the top of the order to be exposed to more deliveries were answered toward the tournament's end, with the left-hander carving out a series of breathtaking innings to almost carry his side into the finals, and climb  to fourth on the series run-scorers list. 

Best knock: 90 (45) v Chennai Super Kings

Image Id: ~/media/93D604C880674A05B38CF99E5A0F9B75

Aaron Finch – Sunrisers Hyderabad

The number one T20 batsman in the world struggled at times opening for Hyderabad. Be it the slow wickets or the predominance of spin, Finch hasn’t found the consistency that elevated him to the world’s best. His unbeaten 88 against Delhi was a display of power hitting we’ve come to expect from Finch, blasting sixes over cover on one knee, but that was more the exception than the rule in IPL7.

Best knock: 88 not out (53) v  Delhi Daredevils

Image Id: ~/media/A360DE5396044747AB35F32EE08FED91

Moises Henriques – Sunrisers Hyderabad

Henriques received limited opportunities this season, interchanging with West Indian Darren Sammy in the allrounder position. His exploits with the bat were not a true reflection of his talent, while his variety with ball was utilised by captain Shikhar Dhawan in different stages of the innings.

Best match: 2-26 (3) v Delhi Daredevils