General / Andrew Hughes / 16 April 2009 /

All-rounders are a much sought after breed in Twenty20 cricket and it's no coincidence that three of the top four IPL money-makers have had more than one string to their bow, writes Andrew Hughes.

The $1.55m paid to Andrew Flintoff is just the latest illustration of the value the franchises place on the multi-skilled cricketer. But even if he remains injury free, Freddie will only be staying in South Africa for a week or two. So which other all-rounders are likely to catch the eye in this year's IPL?

Graham Napier

Up until last summer, few people outside of the county of Essex had heard of Graham Napier. Then against Sussex in the Twenty20 Cup, he produced an astonishing onslaught, scoring a massive 152 including 16 sixes, beating the record set by Brendon McCullum in the opening game of IPL 2008 a few months earlier. His technique is straightforward. From an ungainly looking upright stance he uses his long arms to launch the ball into the stratosphere. It isn't pretty but its damned effective and even his miscues and edges tend to fly high over the boundary. As if that weren't enough, he is a naggingly accurate seamer, particularly adept at closing out an innings, a bowling skill prized beyond all others in Twenty20.

Albie Morkel

Elder sibling of Test regular Morne, this Morkel brother has found a niche for himself as one of the best limited overs players in the world. Very highly regarded in South Africa, he has been compared to Lance Klusener and it is easy to see why. He hits the ball cleanly with a full swing of the bat, can dismantle a bowling attack in an over or two and offers some accurate, sharp and hostile fast-medium bowling. He will be a key performer for the Chennai Super Kings this year.

Yusuf Pathan

One of the cleanest hitters of a ball in world cricket, he was a key contributor to Rajasthan's triumph last year. The 435 runs he scored in IPL 2008 were ammassed at an astonishing strike rate of 179 and he recorded the IPL's fastest half-century, in just 21 balls against the Deccan Chargers. He has a good eye, picks up line and length quickly and hits the ball powerfully. And his stump to stump off spin is a real asset. In the final against Chennai, he dismissed three of the top order and hit vital runs in a superb all-round performance. His assigned nickname last year was 'The Statement Maker' and we should expect a few more such statements in IPL 2009.

Tyron Henderson

The big South African had a big reputation back home before he began to ply his trade for Middlesex, with whom he won the Twenty20 Cup last year. His main skill is with the ball, where he offers some unerringly accurate seam bowling, complete with subtle changes of pace and the ability to keep it tight under pressure in the closing overs. He was considered a rabbit in four day cricket but the sight of the white ball seems to transform him into a batting colossus. His brutal hitting for Middlesex last year prompted them to promote him to the giddy heights of three in the batting order. He was a canny purchase by the Rajasthan Royals for the princely sum of $650,000.

Roelof van der Merwe

Something of a surprise choice, perhaps, but definitely a player to watch. He was a prominent member of the 2004 South African Under 19 World Cup team but his early promise was not fulfilled until the last couple of seasons, when with a renewed determination and a better attitude, he began to mature into an impressive all round cricketer. His nicely-flighted off-spin is well-controlled and intelligently directed. Nicknamed 'The Bulldog' for his obstinate determination on the field, he was an instant success on his international Twenty20 debut, scoring 48 off 28 balls against Australia. He could well be a surprise package for Bangalore at IPL 2009.

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