KP goes first, joins Brad Hodge in St Lucia
Three Aussies picked in CPL draft
Three Australians and one notable former England international have been picked up in the 2014 Caribbean Premier League draft.
Melbourne Stars’ allrounder David Hussey, Hobart Hurricanes’ bowler Ben Laughlin and Perth Scorchers’ batsman Adam Voges have been snapped up by two of the six CPL clubs; Hussey and Laughlin will represent the Antigua Hawkbills, Voges to walk out for Jamaica Tallawahs.
Dumped England batsman Kevin Pietersen didn’t have to wait long to find out who he’d be playing for, taken with the first pick of the night by the St Lucia Zouks, teaming up with Australian Brad Hodge who recently called curtains on his international career following Australia’s early exit from the ICC World T20.
Melbourne Stars’ allrounder David Hussey, Hobart Hurricanes’ bowler Ben Laughlin and Perth Scorchers’ batsman Adam Voges have been snapped up by two of the six CPL clubs; Hussey and Laughlin will represent the Antigua Hawkbills, Voges to walk out for Jamaica Tallawahs.
Dumped England batsman Kevin Pietersen didn’t have to wait long to find out who he’d be playing for, taken with the first pick of the night by the St Lucia Zouks, teaming up with Australian Brad Hodge who recently called curtains on his international career following Australia’s early exit from the ICC World T20.
The chapter finishes. The book has closed. My time for representing my country has ceased. I am proud of my achievements. Ipl here I come
— Brad Hodge (@bradhodge007) April 2, 2014
Pietersen will earn a base of US$80,000 as a first round draftee, with each franchise operating a salary cap worth US$350,000, excluding a West Indies franchise player and an international franchise player, like Hodge, who sit outside the cap.
Picked in round two, Hussey will pocket at least US$70,000, Voges, a third round pick, takes home US$50,000 and Laughlin US$15,000 as a seventh round selection.
Voges will share a dressing room with West Indies superstar Chris Gayle and be guided by former Australia coach Mickey Arthur, who coached him during his tenure at the Alcohol. Think Again Warriors.
Arthur’s predecessor Tim Nielsen helms Antigua, welcoming Hussey and Laughlin to the Hawkbills. Marlon Samuels is set to captain Antigua, reuniting him with Hussey, with the pair almost coming to blows last time they played each other.
In front of more than 45,000 fans at the MCG, Samuels, representing the Melbourne Renegades, grabbed Hussey’s shirt as he considered a second run. The batsman didn’t like that, and his captain, Shane Warne, took exception to Samuels’ actions, dousing the offender with a verbal spray of epic proportions.
The tension came to a head when Warne returned the ball to the wicketkeeper with Samuels in its flight path, Samuels threw his bat in the leg-spinners direction in reply. The pair had to be separated by the match officials, spurring the record crowd into a frenzy.
Other internationals featuring in the league include Corey Anderson, Martin Guptill, Mohammed Hafeez, Neil McKenzie, Shakib Al Hasan, Saeed Ajmal, Roelof van der Merwe, Sohail Tanvir, Kevin O’Brien and Ross Taylor.