Twenty20 Leagues : The Auction System vs Drafts - Which is better?

[MenInG]

IPL = Auction

PSL = Draft

Not sure which is better, although the Auction system makes for great drama.

 

[Hawkeye]

Auction means players can earn far more than what a draft would possibly allow.

From a player's, as well as public (entertainment) factor, auctions are WAY better. Of course you have some internet warriors who think drafts are more "fair" and give "equality" to all the players.

But that's not how drafts work, really. There are tiers - who'd choose the tiers of players? There are shocking tiers there, too.

Maybe you'd prefer a draft if it's your money on the line.

 

[Rayyman]

Ideally you can retain the core of a team and then transfer a couple of players during the off-season.

 

[Zahid87]

Auction system, if governed correctly.

Let the market decide the price. Works well for the players, who can then potentially earn as much as someone is willing to pay, and thereby maximise their utility.

With a draft, you have players on an equal standing (when perhaps they are not), and the potential salary is capped. Player A may be grouped in the same category as Player B in the draft for $1m, but player A may actually be worth $0.8m, wheras player B maybe worth $1.2m. An auction would allow the true worth of the player to be realised.

 

[rhony]

Auction system, if governed correctly.

Let the market decide the price. Works well for the players, who can then potentially earn as much as someone is willing to pay, and thereby maximise their utility.

With a draft, you have players on an equal standing (when perhaps they are not), and the potential salary is capped. Player A may be grouped in the same category as Player B in the draft for $1m, but player A may actually be worth $0.8m, wheras player B maybe worth $1.2m. An auction would allow the true worth of the player to be realised.

Agree. The market demand should dictate the price or value of a player. You can use the draft system for youngsters but the 'in demand' players should not be subjected to limitations. PSL had adopted the draft system because of lack of resources. IPL has a salary cap per team and that should be enough for a level playing field.

 

[BeautifulGame]

Just as a trivia IPL tried Draft system for U-19 players in 2009.Thats how RCB picked up Kohli in 2009 IPL auction.

IPL later ditched it because it was felt it unfair for players earning potential.

 

[MenInG]

Auction system, if governed correctly.

Let the market decide the price. Works well for the players, who can then potentially earn as much as someone is willing to pay, and thereby maximise their utility.

With a draft, you have players on an equal standing (when perhaps they are not), and the potential salary is capped. Player A may be grouped in the same category as Player B in the draft for $1m, but player A may actually be worth $0.8m, wheras player B maybe worth $1.2m. An auction would allow the true worth of the player to be realised.

Then why do people choose draft? I believe same happens in NFL?

 

[ezy9]

I believe Draft system is better, but there should be no categories A,B,C. Price is fixed based on the round, for example, every player selected Round 1 get 1M and every player in round 11 gets 100,000. No restriction on where any player can be selected.

So if the team believes an emerging player is great enough, they can select him in the first round and pay 1M as per salary for the round.

This way the salaries across all franchises is similar, otherwise large franchises can easily sabotage smaller market by outbidding them for better players.

 

[Pakpak]

IPL = Auction

PSL = Draft

Not sure which is better, although the Auction system makes for great drama.

Do we know why the PSL did not go the auction route?

 

[Syed1]

Then why do people choose draft? I believe same happens in NFL?

NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB all are based on draft system.

 

[GrandMaster]

Depends on the league and what franchisees prefer. IPL already tried the draft system which didn't go well.
For a league like IPL, Auction is the best option.

 

[MenInG]

Depends on the league and what franchisees prefer. IPL already tried the draft system which didn't go well.
For a league like IPL, Auction is the best option.

I think it is the drama factor and makes for good viewing

 

[R0H1T]

The auction with a hard cap on player salaries, for instance make foreign players earn up to 10 crores starting next year, the Indian players can have a max 20 crores salary. Make it a minimum of 20 player (25 at most) squad & have max of 8 foreign players in a squad of 20, the team's salary cap makes no sense when you don't put a limit on individual salaries.

 

[bleaf27]

I'd take the draft system over an auction system , In North American sport's its a draft system and it gives the teams who are always at a bottom to get a good pick and get some much needed help they cannot afford otherwise.
Auction system is similar to Premier League in football - Eg Man City - bigger the wallet's bigger the players . Divide between the teams is hard to cancel out where as in a draft, it isn't just money.

 

[Slog]

Auction with a cap on individual salary as well as total team salary

 

[nighthawk23]

How could there be an auction with a hard cap on player salaries? The whole point of the auction is to let the market dictate prices. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

 

[kingusama92]

Draft + Salary Cap is best.

Draft the players so there's parity in the league but let them negotiate contracts after being drafted with minimums and maximums for how much can be offered.

I don't like the tier system. It forces players into a specific contract.

 

[hafizexpress]

NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB all are based on draft system.

That is different. In those leagues, the franchises pick players out of their college. No money is involved then it's just a turn by turn thing with two rounds. With cricket though, the franchises choose already established players to play for them and pay accoridngly.

 

[Convict]

Free Agency with salary cap

 

[Rayyman]

I think auction is kind of weird. It's like bidding for an item. Materializes the players.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

All American Sports (Which I believe are of the highest Professional Quality in the World) use the draft system with a salary cap based on each round. The Best way !!

 

[Messiah]

All American Sports (Which I believe are of the highest Professional Quality in the World) use the draft system with a salary cap based on each round. The Best way !!

Comparing apples to oranges. In American sport leagues, teams draft young players out of college based on potential. The player then develops as part of the team and the team can trade him later if they desire. In those sports, these leagues are played much more often than international tournaments, so a player spend 80% of the time playing for their respective clubs. This is absolutely not comparable to cricket

 

[Messiah]

On topic, I believe an auction with salary capped for each team is by far the best way. Most people supporting auction is bringing up North America leagues, while being completely ignorant of how they work. Yet to hear a good argument for draft system

 

[kingusama92]

Comparing apples to oranges. In American sport leagues, teams draft young players out of college based on potential. The player then develops as part of the team and the team can trade him later if they desire. In those sports, these leagues are played much more often than international tournaments, so a player spend 80% of the time playing for their respective clubs. This is absolutely not comparable to cricket

The same system can be applied with older players.

Drafting isn't about potential alone. It's about dispersing talent in an equal fashion.

Right now players are either being auctioned or positioned into set tiers meaning they have minimal control over their salary.

A draft system + salary cap setup would enable these players to control how much they're paid after getting drafted.

 

[Speedster777]

Auction system is pretty humiliating for any human being.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

IPL has gotten it right this year I feel.

Some really talented Indian players shining.

 

[HitWicket]

But that's not how drafts work, really. There are tiers - who'd choose the tiers of players? There are shocking tiers there, too.

You let the teams choose the tiers. All players are available in all rounds (or only make themselves available up to a certain round) and the first round is the first tier etc.

Edit : Just realised that's a fairly old post.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Auction means players can earn far more than what a draft would possibly allow.

From a player's, as well as public (entertainment) factor, auctions are WAY better. Of course you have some internet warriors who think drafts are more "fair" and give "equality" to all the players.

But that's not how drafts work, really. There are tiers - who'd choose the tiers of players? There are shocking tiers there, too.

Maybe you'd prefer a draft if it's your money on the line.

A draft does not have to work in the absurd way PSL does with arbitrary tiers made by organizers.

Just put all players in the draft and let teams pick according to their preference rather than Gold Player, Platinum player and all this nonsense. Plenty of players in supplemental category are miles better than Diamond or Gold player.

Draft is more fair to player (assuming same overall salary cap and expenditure) because their pay won't depend on so many random factors like when they come in the draft order etc.

An open draft where all players are treated as equal and it's up to owners to decide who is most valuable is a best system.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Auction with a cap on individual salary as well as total team salary

Auction with a cap is literally impossible. The whole concept of an auction is that you keep going till someone wants it more than everyone else.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Draft vs Auctions

Okay so, which system is better? and Why? and Is there another better method for assorting players into different teams with price tags?

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Auctions splurge too much money on certain cricketers and leave the door open for false bidding (like Cummins’ inflated price last year).

Drafts allow the competitiveness on a year to year basis by resetting a lot of teams. It’s hard to win to years in a row and that’s a good thing. No monopoly on players.

I personally prefer the draft system. Unless you are a financial powerhouse like IPL, false bidding can leave teams bankrupt and unable to afford more than one “platinum level” player.

 

[Hasan123]

I prefer drafts. With auctions you are having to think about budgets and sometimes you will go for a less quality option due to budget.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

I prefer drafts. With auctions you are having to think about budgets and sometimes you will go for a less quality option due to budget.

On the flip side, you end up making Chris Morris and Jhye Richardson some of the highest paid players in the league. I just don’t understand it.

 

[Rana]

Drafts.

Why is anyone paying $15m for a joke like Chris Morris during a global pandemic? This is a human rights violation!

 

[JaDed]

Drafts.

Why is anyone paying $15m for a joke like Chris Morris during a global pandemic? This is a human rights violation!

2 . some million .. not 15.. - 16.25 crores, Morris has been good in IPL.. Maxwell didnt deserve it though

 

[JaDed]

Drafts ..

 

[the Great Khan]

Auctions are degrading. Its like your buying horses for or livestock. utterly degrading.

 

[Rana]

How is it fair on the retained players? Why cant they go back into the auction and fetch more money?

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

Prefer auctions. Because both with draft and auction, franchises gets designated amount of money, meaning they can’t spend more than the allotted purse. Only in auction, every franchise gets a fair go at each player, granted they spend responsibly.

 

[Hasan123]

On the flip side, you end up making Chris Morris and Jhye Richardson some of the highest paid players in the league. I just don’t understand it.

Chris Morris usually does well in the IPL but I would not have gone that high for him as he isn't always fit.

 

[JaDed]

How is it fair on the retained players? Why cant they go back into the auction and fetch more money?

They can if they want to..

 

[amit]

Auction is more fair on teams than Draft

Assume a new T20 league starts with all players available. Players like Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, David Warner, AB de Villiers, Kane Williamson, etc all available. Every team will have equal chance of getting the big players in a auction, whereas in a draft, the team which goes 1st can pick the player they want and other teams can't get that player even if they want them

 

[Titan24]

I think even in Auction there is a certain cap in terms of total spending and each team is given a purse (Kindly correct me if I am wrong). So it isnt like one rich franchise can just grab every top player because they have more money.

So both the auction and draft are capped but, the difference is that in auction the whole team spending is capped while they can spend as much as they like on one player within the provided purse (Obviously min squad has to be created), on the other hand in draft system salaries of players are capped within different categories.

In auction for example it can be that one team spends 30-70% of its budget on one or two players while the rest of the players are bought with the remaining budget however, in draft spending range on each category of player is fixed and you have to pick minimum number of players in each category.

I personally like draft system as there is a default road map in place for a reasonably balanced outfit in terms of mixture of players each year and also the word auction with regards to players doesnt resonate much with me however, in terms of working its fine as well.

 

[Savak]

I would like the PSL to move towards an auction system. It will attract the best players. The salaries on offer are too low right now.

 

[Savak]

Robin Uthappa Suggests Draft System for IPL, Auctions Harsh On Mental Health

Robin Uthappa Suggests Draft System for IPL, Auctions Harsh On Mental Health

The former India cricketer said player can get into dark places thinking why they weren't picked at the IPL auctions.

LAST UPDATED:

FEBRUARY 21, 2022, 19:13 IST

IPL Auctions have two contrasting aspects. Well, if you are young and successful, it can take you to heights you haven’t imagined before. Imagine players like Deepak Chahar, Rahul Tripathi fetching amounts as high as INR 8.4 Crores. But then there are some who didn’t get an offer at all. Some of them wait all day, only to see an ‘unsold’ tag in front of them. This can be ‘defeating’ to players, felt former India cricketer Robin Uthappa.

Speaking to ‘News 9’, Uthappa said his heart goes out to the IPL discards as it can get really dark if they aren’t sold at all. “Playing for a team like CSK was something I desired, it was one of my only prayers: let’s get back to CSK. My family, even my son, prayed for that, which is special for me. I’m happy to be back in a place where there’s a sense of security and a sense of respect. There’s a backing that’s given which makes me feel like I can do anything."

“You can’t imagine what the guys who don’t get sold go through. It cannot be pleasant. My heart goes out to guys who have been there for a long time and then miss out and don’t get picked. It can be defeating sometimes. Suddenly your value as a cricketer becomes about how much somebody is willing to spend on you, and it’s so haphazard… there is no method to the madness," pointed out Uthappa.

He suggested that BCCI can consider a draft system that can not only be efficient but can also be good for their mental health. “People have tried their best to kind of grapple around it for the last 15 years, and I don’t know if they have a clue because if you speak to a lot of the people who have been there at the auction, they’ll say ‘you know it’s so random… if you’d come later you’d probably have made more money… if you’d come earlier there’d have been enough money so you’d have made more’. I really hope for the sake of the sanity of everybody that this goes into a draft system where it is more respectful."

Link: https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/...-auctions-harsh-on-mental-health-4796111.html

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

Good point by Robin Uthappa. One big purpose of the Auction is to create Hype and excitement for the tournament, which is why I personally think that PSL should also replace the draft with the auction. But relating to Uthappa's point, although there will be players that will go through tough times after being unsold, the auction also leads to players being more determined and working harder.

The bottom line is not everyone can be pleased, plus if players don't get picked in drafts, then that is also hard to deal with just like not getting sold in the auction.

 

[oatmeal]

The draft system is good for the finances of the teams as it makes spending on player salaries more predictable. It's much more easier to screw up your team's balance in an auction.

But then with a limited number of tiers in the draft, you wouldn't get blockbuster salaries that attract the top tier talent.

The American leagues have good balance when rookies from college enter the league through the draft but after 4 or 5 years they can sign their free agent deals for a lot of money. Obviously cricket is different because most of the players are already pros