Cricket: Mixed news for top cricketers at IPL auction

Good and bad news for New Zealand's two most senior cricketers in the opening session of the Indian Premier League auction.

National captain Brendon McCullum was wanted by Chennai Super Kings, who paid $627,000 for his services.

Not so good for the country's leading batsman, Ross Taylor, who was passed in unwanted by any of the eight franchises.

His form in last season's tournament, when he was playing for the now disbanded Pune Warriors was ordinary.

He scored just 63 runs in five games with a strike rate of 82. Perhaps long memories were in play in the auction room in Bangalore.

However Taylor was not alone in missing out. A raft of Sri Lankan players, including the dazzling batsman Mahela Jayawardene, classy allrounder Angelo Matthews and aggressive opener Tillekaratne Dilshan were also passed over. Sri Lanka have a tour to England due to cut across the tournament, therefore reducing their window of availability, didn't help their chances.

All those players can go back on the block for the second day's action beginning late afternoon tomorrow.