'It's surprising': David Warner's sledge for $2.5 million teammate
The IPL auction can usually be relied upon to throw up a few surprises, and Australian opener David Warner certainly felt the price fetched by Aussie teammate Glenn Maxwell fit the bill.
Long regarded as an effective but enigmatic T20 player, Maxwell endured a torrid IPL season in 2020, which ultimately led to him being cut from the Kings XI Punjab mid-season.
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However that campaign, in which Maxwell failed to hit a six in 13 innings, did nothing to dent the 32-year-old's value.
Instead, his turnaround in form outside the IPL was more than enough for Royal Challengers Bangalore to drop AU$2.5 million to secure the all-rounder's services.
Never one to let an opportunity for good-natured mockery slide, Warner was on commentary for Monday night's T20 match against New Zealand when Maxwell's high price came up.
Warner couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the eye-watering price the Royal Challengers dropped on the Australian star.
“Not a bad result in the IPL auction for the ‘Big Show’ either,” Warner said while on commentary for Fox Sports.
Co-host Mark Waugh agreed 'considering his last IPL season', with Warner going one step further.
“It’s surprising, you get let go from your franchise and you get a lot more after being released," he said.
In a press conference following the IPL auction, RCB director of cricket Mike Hesson said the club had full confidence in his form.
"Obviously, he is a multiskilled player, he is good in the field and obviously, able to bowl off-spin,” Hesson said.
“We all know how good a touch he (is in) away from the IPL.”
Isolation no excuse for Australia: Finch
Australia's T20 cricketers are refusing to blame their fortnight-long isolation for a first-up humbling by New Zealand.
In game one of a five-match T20 series, Aaron Finch's side were skittled in Christchurch, 53 runs short of New Zealand's 5-184.
The loss came just 24 hours after the end of their quarantine under military supervision at the city's Chateau on the Park hotel.
Players were allowed gym and training sessions during their hotel stay but ate meals alone and were not allowed to socialise or stretch their legs outside of prescribed windows.
Finch said the unusual preparation was not an excuse for the loss.
"The 14 days was pretty good to be honest. They looked after us brilliantly," he said.
"The defence force, the government, they've all been fantastic.
"We didn't play our best tonight. New Zealand just played well."
Finch endured another disappointment with the bat, driving firmly to Devon Conway at point in the first over for just one run.
With AAP
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