NSW want Yuvraj Singh for T20 Big Bash

Monday, October 5, 2009

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According to a top NSW player, the management is likely to get in touch with Yuvraj and see if they can use the southpaw's power-hitting in the domestic Twenty20 tournament, which runs from December 28, 2009 to January 23, 2010.

"He's a great player, and he's been magnificent in conditions across the world, so if we can get him, it'll give us a great chance at the title," said the cricketer.

NSW are the 2008-09 Big Bash champions, and are currently in India for the Champions League Twenty20. The team already boasts of Australian internationals Simon Katich, David Warner and Phillip Hughes at the top of the order. When not on national duty, Michael Clarke and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin bolster the middle-order. A full-strength bowling line-up would feature stalwarts like Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken, Nathan Hauritz and the up-and-coming pace sensation, Doug Bollinger. A recent addition to that list is Australia's current No.1 all-rounder, Shane Watson, who has moved to NSW from Queensland.

But ten of their 36-member squad for the season are bound by Cricket Australia contracts. This is the reason why the Blues have earlier expressed interest in signing Pakistan's star all-rounder Shahid Afridi and Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara. Either of those players, combined with Yuvraj, would give the Sydney-based team a boost in a bid to retain their title, since most of NSW's first XI will be in contention for berths in the Australian side, which hosts West Indies and Pakistan between November and February.

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Each of the six Australian domestic teams are allowed to have two foreign players each in their squads for the Big Bash, and have to finalise their squads by December 24. Last year's runners-up, Victorian Bushrangers, have already signed Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan and West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo. Tasmania, meanwhile, have Lasith Malinga in their ranks, while South Australia have inked a deal with Ajantha Mendis and Western Australia have signed Caribbean batting superstar Chris Gayle.

For Yuvi, the potential deal may provide a good platform to garner more experience in Australian conditions, since he was found wanting on India's last tour to the country in 2007-08. In the first two Tests at Melbourne and Sydney, he could only manage 17 runs, with two ducks in four innings.

The Kings XI Punjab skipper's Twenty20 International record is arguably one the best in the world, with 415 runs from 15 matches at an average of 34.58 and a mind-boggling strike-rate of 160.85. Overall, in 57 T20 matches, he has scored 1380 runs at a strike-rate of 138.27, and has also been a handy bowler, picking up two IPL hat-tricks on his way to 20 wickets in the format.

What will throw a spanner in the works, however, is India's choc-a-bloc international calendar. The Men in Blue may play a tri-series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Bangladesh in early January, which will not only prevent Yuvraj from suiting up for NSW, but will also rob the state sides of their big-name Lankan signings.

But with CA encouraging states to rope in big stars to increase interest in the Big Bash, and the amicability that exists between CA and BCCI, Six Sixes Part-II might just happen on the hallowed turf of the Sydney Cricket Ground.

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