Indian Premier League: The Australian Impact

That the Australians are a breed apart when it comes to international cricket is something that cannot be disputed. Decade after decade, they continue to make an impact. When down, they re-group and bounce back hard. However, have the Aussies made a big impact on the IPL?(IPL 2015: Full Coverage)

The answer to that question depends on how you define impact. If it's the infectious spirit of belief that lifts a side, then the Aussies do bring a lot to the table. NDTV IPL expert and former Australian cricketer Dean Jones said, "It's infectious the way we are aggressive. We have this belief that no matter what the situation is, we can find a way to get out of it. Is that instilled in us when we are 15, 13, 12? Yes."(Kings XI Punjab's Australian Connection)

From legends like Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath to new age heroes like Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith and Aaron Finch, the Aussies have always had a presence in the IPL.

The numbers though don't throw up the Aussies as a bunch of big impact players, despite a number of very big names playing in the IPL. Overall, David Warner (one of IPL's leading run-getters this season) has scored the maximum runs by an Australian batsman (2094 runs in 72 matches). Warner though is 15th on the list of all-time IPL run-getters. On the bowling front, Shane Warne has the maximum number of wickets taken by an Australian bowler (57 wickets in 55 matches). He is in 25th place on the all-time IPL wicket-takers' list. The numbers aren't very impressive are they? Statistics though, often don't reveal the real impact a player has had.

Consider this - Shane Warne took a bunch of little known players to the first ever IPL title in 2008. Shane Watson, Steve Smith and James Faulkner are integral members of the Rajasthan Royals. Glenn Maxwell will perhaps always be included in Punjab's playing XI, despite a string of below-par performances. Mitchell Johnson will always be regarded as an asset. Michael Hussey was bought back by the Chennai Super Kings because they realised what he brought to the table. The Mumbai Indians roped in Ricky Ponting as soon as they could, to be their Head coach. Three out of the eight captains in this IPL are Aussies. That's one less than the number of Indian captains.

Add to that a whole host of Aussies who have played valuable roles, albeit short ones in the IPL. From Doug Bollinger to James Hopes. From Luke Pomersbach to Daniel Christian.

One Aussie, who is missing in action right now, is World Cup star Mitchell Starc. Bangalore are desperate to have him back. NDTV IPL expert and former Australian cricketer Dean Jones told NDTV, "We know that RCB is desperate to get Mitchell Starc back. They have sent an SOS call for him now. They want him now."

A lot of the Australians, especially those who were part of the World Cup winning squad, are yet to really get off the blocks in the IPL, like Maxwell and Warner. There will however never be a dearth of confidence, of the belief that they can do well. When Warner was asked if his team could defend 127 versus Rajasthan on Thursday, his answer was, "100%." False bravado you would say? Actually, the Aussies don't know what it means to give up. Dean Jones in fact revealed this about the Aussie psyche, "We bluff ourselves a little bit. Underneath we are shaking a little bit, but we have to push through."

Steve Smith will perhaps be picked as the best international batsman right now by many experts. Jones calls his non-stop run-making in any format, 'Bradmanesque'. The way he has grabbed the opportunity to captain Rajasthan in the absence of another Aussie, Shane Watson, makes him an impact captain as well.

Among all the foreign countries whose players are a part of the IPL, Australia are the most dominant international cricket force. Their quintessential flair and never say die attitude has added a lot to the IPL. The tournament perhaps wouldn't have been the same without the Aussies.