Indians swoop for Dunk

CRICKET:

FORMER Royton professional Ben Dunk will play in the forthcoming Pepsi Indian Premier League after being snapped up by the Mumbai Indians in the player auction.

Dunk, who was pro at the Paddock last summer, was to have returned for the 2014 Lake Garage CLL campaign, but is due to undergo wrist surgery in the next few months.

The operation was initially delayed as Dunk played a starring role for the Hobart Hurricanes in the recent Big Bash Twenty20 series in Australia.

Dunk, named man of the tournament for a string of stunning efforts as opening batsman, helped to guide the Hurricanes to the Big Bash final in which they succumbed to the Perth Scorchers.

Dunk’s IPL purchase price of 2,000,000 Rupees (approx £19,000) could well be a bargain for Mumbai, particularly given he can also keep wicket effectively.

Dunk will be playing alongside fellow Australians Michael Hussey the ex-Test star, and Josh Hazelwood. Also in the Mumbai line-up are Indian bowling aces Zaheer Khan and Pragyan Ojha.