Change of IPL venue could stand Ashes aspirants in good stead

Melbourne, Mar.27 (ANI): A change of country for the second season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) could benefit Australian cricketers Brett Lee, Ryan Harris, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh, all of whom are fighting to put their names in front of the national selectors ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup and the Ashes series.

Lee in particular has his eyes on an Ashes berth, and his chances of impressing Andrew Hilditch and co will be greatly enhanced by doing so on the pitches of South Africa, as opposed to the dead and dry surfaces so prevalent in India.

With a few overs of T20 bowling, Lee can show he is capable of whizzing the ball around in the right conditions and he may start to win over the relevant observers.

So to get the chance to bowl in South Africa or England instead of India will be a definite tonic.

Harris, Tait, Watson and Marsh will also benefit from the change of country, despite Watson's obvious affection for India following his tremendous feats for Rajasthan during the tournament's inaugural edition. (ANI)