What the bloody IPL?

I've been rather quiet about the whole IPL thing - in fact, I've been rather quiet in general this week, and I'm sorry for that, dear, loyal reader (yes, I think I'm probably correct in addressing you in the singular), but I've had stuff to do - and that's mainly because I can't be bothered to get bogged down in financial questions (those that know me will vouch for my inability to count past 10) and moral glue

One great positive of this whole thing, for me, is that we'll be seeing a great many more West Indian players playing county cricket this season than we have done for many a year

With many superstars unable to join counties due to their IPL commitments, it gives Windies quicks like Fidel Edwards, Pedro Collins and Jermaine Lawson the chance to properly get to grips with awkward English conditions, as well as learn the lessons that the county game has to teach them - all invaluable stuff that they can use, hopefully, to catapult the Windies side into becoming a respectable international side at the very least

You'll notice that I haven't made mention of Shiv Chanderpaul's signing up for a 2nd season with Durham, and that's because he is already an astoundingly good player: the player of 2007 and, for my money, one good enough to walk into any side in the world

Wavell Hinds at Derbyshire? Well, that whirlwind Chris Gayle is still in need of a partner at the top of the Windies order and we only hope that Hinds can become more nimble at the crease and not merely plonk his big right boot straight down the wicket at anything that pitches in his half and take a swish at it. Problem is, in signing a Kolpak deal, he might well have signed away his international career anyway

Keep an eye on that Lawson chap this season: now 26, it seemed for all the world as though he'd gone the way of Franklin Rose, Nixon McLean and those myriad other poor coves charged with picking up the mantle left by Walsh and Ambrose, but he could be on his way back. That's great, because he's infinitely more talented than McLean and Rose and looked extremely promising when first he burst onto the scene: anyone remember his 7 for 78 against the Aussies at Antigua in '03? I bet you do. Well, if his action is indeed now sorted, there could be more great things to come from the rapid Jamaican

Edwards and Collins? Capable of swinging the ball at frightening pace, Edwards needs to get out the habit of getting carried away with the short ball, whilst Collins has talent but, like Hinds, may have scuppered his Windies future by signing as a Kolpak player. All's the pity, because the pair could yet develop a good new-ball partnership for the West Indies

It's a shame, too, that the boy Best has signed up to play Disney cricket instead of getting his career proper back on track with a spell at a county