Australians keen for last-minute IPL deals

Indian Premier League teams are still topping up their player rosters and that is good news for Australian state players like Shane Harwood, according to Chloe Saltau in the Age.

Harwood is a prime example of a cricketer for whom the Twenty20 explosion could work wonders. Though his Cricket Victoria contract is expected to be renewed next month, its value may be reduced on account of the 34-year-old's propensity to blow a shoulder or tweak a hamstring at any time.

But even if his days in first-class cricket are numbered, Harwood could prolong his career and boost his pay considerably with a contract in the IPL. He remains a feared weapon when fit, and last summer was ranked by his peers as the country's best Twenty20 bowler. Though he is yet to sign, Harwood is ready to fly to India at a moment's notice.