Cricket: Southee puts hand up for IPL selection

Tim Southee will be hoping to get picked up at the IPL auction over January 27-28. Photo / Photosport

Tim Southee is one of 30 New Zealanders looking to secure themselves a lucrative Indian Premier League contract in this month's auction.

The Black Caps opening bowler has set a reserve price of $217,000 for himself after he and the majority of players were not retained by their 2017 franchise.

Only 18 players kept their roster spots with no New Zealanders surviving the cull.

Southee has played for three franchises in his five stints in the league, most recently with the Mumbai Indians.

After playing in 11 games in the 2016 season, where he picked up nine wickets at 36.55, Southee found himself on the outer and only played in three matches in the 2017 edition.

Tournament organisers released details ahead of the auction on January 27-28, with New Zealand's tally of interested players bettered by India (778), Australia (58), South Africa (57), Sri Lanka and the West Indies (both 39).

A total of 1122 players have signed up for the 11th edition of the lucrative Twenty20 league starting on April 4 but most of the names are not made public until the eight franchises scan the names and express interest.

Former Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum and allrounder Corey Anderson, who is returning from injury, have both set the highest reserve price of $435,000.

Anderson hasn't played at any level for six months and underwent back surgery in September to repair a stress fracture.

Others on the auction top line include Kiwi-born England allrounder Ben Stokes, West Indies big-hitter Chris Gayle and Australian pace trio Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

There were 11 New Zealanders in last year's league but none of them were among the 18 players retained by their franchises pre-auction.

Black Caps captain Kane Williamson and in-form seamer Trent Boult both set their reserve price at $325,500 while Mitchell McClenaghan is at $217,000.

Colin Munro and Tom Latham have also entered the auction, organisers said.