Big-hitting Napier eyeing IPL big bucks

LONDON: The mind-boggling figures quoted in the Indian Premier League continue to dominate the debate among English players and big-hitting Essex batsman Graham Napier has no qualms in admitting that he is keen to take the plunge at the earliest.
    
Napier has been in scintillating form in Twenty20 and 11 days after his 58-ball 152, the Essex batsman hit a 34-ball 61 against Yorkshire to lift Essex to the Friends Provident Trophy final.
    
Hoping his big-hitting would soon catch the eyes of the IPL mandarins, Napier said he cannot wait to jump onto the bandwagon.
    
"With Stanford, the IPL and the ICL, it's a good time to be hitting the ball well," Napier was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
    
"I wouldn't turn (the IPL) down. It's a life-changing opportunity financially and the Stanford Twenty20 is the same. There's no reason why I can't do it and it's something I'd love to do," said the 28-year-old player.
    
Yorkshire skipper Darren Gough also vouched for Napier's prowess with the bat.
    
"...Napier hit with the wind and he hit well. He's a strong guy and a huge talent. We tried to sign him for Yorkshire last year but he stayed put," Gough said.