Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne shocked at axing

Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne has expressed his dismay at the news that his team has been axed from the Indian Premier League next season.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Sunday it would terminate the contracts of the inaugural IPL champions and Kings XI Punjab after reported financial irregularities.

Both sides were founding members of the popular Twenty20 tournament and Warne's sadness was obvious after he posted several messages on his Twitter account on Sunday evening.

"It's a big shock," the legendary leg-spinner posted.

Shane Warne has also been a key part of the Rajasthan story, which began with an upset victory in the first edition of the IPL, while Aaron Finch, Shaun Tait, Adam Voges were the other Australians who played for the team in 2010.

Brett Lee and Shaun Marsh were on the books of Punjab.

Watson's continued success for both Rajasthan and Australia has been due in large part to the
careful management of his body by the Queensland-based Victor Popov and also John Gloster, the Royals' Australian physio.

Rajasthan were believed to have set aside the maximum figure of $A2 million to retain Watson and so keep him out of the forthcoming IPL auction, but all that has been thrown out by the BCCI's verdict.

"I've been lucky enough to be able to come over here to India for a number of years now," Watson said. "I've been able to feel a lot more comfortable coming over here and understanding the different grounds and the different conditions here."


SHANE Warne and Shane Watson need a new cash cow after their Rajasthan Royals were kicked out of the IPL last night.

Tait out for two months with elbow injury

The fast bowler Shaun Tait will miss Australia's limited-overs matches in India this month and at home against Sri Lanka in November after having surgery on his right elbow.

Tait is expected to be out of action until at least early December, which also leaves his World Cup hopes in doubt as the squad will be announced later that month.

Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait had arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow on Friday and will be unable to play for two months.

The 27-year-old had surgery on the elbow back in 2007 and it is thought he may have aggravated the same injury.

"Shaun Tait underwent corrective elbow surgery this afternoon for a chronic elbow complaint and his return to cricket will be determined by the speed of his recovery from surgery," said Cricket Australia Doctor Trefor James.

The Adelaide-born quick has 46 wickets from 25 one day internationals and 26 wickets from his 17 Twenty20 internationals.

He represents the South Australian Redbacks in the Champions League Twenty20 competition.

Fergie eyes off a rich Indian double

CALLUM Ferguson is on the verge of a double celebration. He is "quietly confident" of securing an Indian Premier League contract while an Australia one-day recall looks imminent.

The vibrant middle-order batsman is one of five South Australian Champions League stars being courted by IPL rivals trawling for talent before an expanded 2011 series.

"To get exposure to such a high level of cricket would be fantastic," said Ferguson, whose 200-run, Champions League spree and bumper 151.1 strike rate underlined his Twenty20 prowess.

"I am quietly confident I might get a chance. It would be nice."

Ferguson is at short odds to receive a recall for the limited-overs segment of Australia's tour of India. 

Klinger made three half centuries in a stunning debut as captain and is a genuine chance of gaining an IPL deal after being overlooked for the Redbacks' Big Bash campaign last season.

Ferguson, spearhead Shaun Tait (nine wickets), skipper Michael Klinger (226 runs), allrounder Dan Christian (eight wickets), and opener Daniel Harris (139 runs/six wickets) excelled in the Redbacks' surge to the Champions League semi-finals in South Africa.

"Maxy" believes the Redbacks' Australian limited overs trio - Ferguson, Christian and Tait - stand strong chances of landing IPL contracts and hopes to join them in the Twenty20 showcase.

"In terms of the tournament, there was a fair bit of hype about the Redbacks. Christo was leading the wicket-taking. I was making some runs, Ferg performed consistently well and Taity was the fastest bowler at the tournament."

While SA has basked in a $1 million Champions League pay-day, Klinger said it was important the team translated its success to other forms of the game. "There is a difference between T20 and four-day cricket. That is something we have to get our heads around," he said.