[img_assist|nid=6504|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=220|height=116]England/GB skipper Barry Middleton and England stars Simon Mantell and Adam Dixon will play in the 2014 edition of the Hockey India League after being picked up in today’s player auction.
Middleton will joing Ashley Jackson, the only English player in the 2013 league, at the Ranchi Rhinos. The defending champions paid $53,000 for the three-time Olympian.
Dixon attracted a $41,000 bid from the Dabur Mumbai Magicians where he will suit up alongside Mantell, for whom the Magicians bid $26,000.
The league’s six franchises spent $1.37 million to buy 49 players from Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Argentina, Ireland, England, South Africa and India.
The top bid for an overseas player was $71,000 for New Zealand’s Ryan Archibald who goes to the new Kalinga Lancers franchise.
Bargain of the day looks like Ireland’s superb goalkeeper David Harte who only cost the Mumbai Magicians $11,000.
The league runs from January 23 to February 23, 2014.
Attached is a full list of players bought at todays closed-bid auction.
