Damien Martyn dumped out of IPL

Former Australian batsman Damien Martyn has been dropped from a prunedRajasthan Royals squad after playing only a match in the Indian Premier League’s third edition.

Martyn, who along with Adam Voges was the onlyAustralian to be picked in the January auction, was bought at the behest of his friend and RajasthanRoyals skipper Shane Warne.

‘By the time you read this, I’ll be heading home,’ Martyn wrote on his blog. ‘The Rajasthan Royals squad has been trimmed to 19 players and it looks like all-rounder Shane Watson might join us next week. That’s the nature of professional cricket and I knew from the start what my role in the squad was and how this might happen.’

Martyn scored only 19 in his match against Royal Challengers Bangalore before being dropped for the next two games.

‘I enjoyed my IPL debut last week — and even though it wasn’t the best result (19 off 24 balls) — it’s ironic that ever I was to play it had to be against the best bowler in the world… Dale Steyn, bowling 155kmph.’

Martyn also hinted at taking up coaching. ‘I have enjoyed my time as a player but looking forward to new roles around the group, like all past players, getting my notebook out, sitting in the dugout and scribbling away.’

Martyn's Twitter - http://twitter.com/dmartyn30

Official website - http://damienmartyn.com/

From Martyn's Blog - Heading Home

From - PTI

Breaking News from IPL - 2 NEW TEAMS KOCHIN & PUNE

Pune and Kochi were unveiled as the two new IPL franchises, joining the tournament from the 2011 edition. While Pune was bought by Sahara Adventure Sports Group for $370 million, the Kochi franchise was snapped up by Rendezvous Sports World Limited for $333.3 million. In fact, Sahara had the highest bids for three cities - Ahmedabad, Pune and Nagpur - but it eventually opted for Pune.

Unveiling the winners at the ITC Park Sheraton in Chennai on Sunday, Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner said, "There were five qualified bids and the bidding was extremely competitive. I hope they make good business." He also indicated that the franchise fee for the two new teams was for 10 years.

The process was to have been completed on March 7 but was postponed by two weeks after the bidders and the BCCI objected to stiff financial clauses.

The IPL will now feature 10 teams and - if the current format is retained - a total of 94 games, from the existing 60. After the first season in 2008, the league has already expanded its reach to other centres such as Cuttack, Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Dharamsala.

from Cricinfo