6 fast bowlers who could replace Josh Hazlewood in CSK squad
With the Indian Premier League 2021 edition fast approaching, players from around the world (including the Indian players) have started to arrive at their franchise's training camp. With that also a number of players have decided to opt-out of the IPL 2021 season.
With the latest being Chennai Super Kings' Josh Hazlewood, who ruled himself out of the IPL 2021 edition citing a busy International schedule with Australia and bubble fatigue. Before him, Sunrisers Hyderabad's all-rounder Mitchell Marsh opted out of the Indian Premier League 2021 season citing the same, Jason Roy was named as a replacement.
With Josh Hazlewood now out of the IPL 2021 edition, Chennai Super Kings will now start the search for a replacement as soon as possible. Today, we take a look at the 5 potential replacement option that Chennai Super Kings might consider.
1. Billy Stanlake
The first on our list that Chennai Super Kings might have a look at is the Aussie Billy Stanlake. Billy Stanlake arrived at Australian cricket scenes from the 2014 under-19 World Cup.
The Aussie has already featured in IPL for two seasons. In total 6 matches, he has 7 wickets to his name with an economy rate of 8.33. On his debut season he joined Royal Challengers Bangalore for IPL 2017 for 30 lakh, he managed to pick up 2 wickets in the 2 matches he played. He joined Sunrisers Hyderabad for IPL 2018 but again didn't get many chances as he only played 4 times and picked up 5 wickets.
2. Sean Abbott
The second name on the list is another Australian. Sean Abbott might not have experience in terms of playing in the IPL but could prove to be a crucial pick for CSK. He has so far only played 2 matches in the IPL.
He was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a hefty 1 crore price but only got 2 appearances for the Bangalore based team. In those 2 matches he played, he gave away runs at an economy rate of 11.40 and has no wickets to his name.
But when we talk about his domestic T20 career, he has 115 wickets to his name in 95 matches and an economy rate of 8.54, which is good in T20 cricket.
3. Sheldon Cottrell
Sheldon Cottrell's number in both domestic T20 and T20 International might make Chennai Super Kings think about him. The West Indies International has impressed in his career so far. He finished as the leading wicket-taker for West Indies in the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
In 105 T20 matches, he has picked up 135 wickets and has an economy rate of 7.58. He has featured 30 times for West Indies in T20I and has 37 wickets. He joined Kings XI Punjab in the 2020 IPL Auction for the 2020 IPL season. He failed to live up to the major hype created around him as he only managed 6 wickets in 6 matches for the Punjab side. But the numbers show that he has the talent and CSK might be able to bring the best out of him.
4. Jason Behrendorff
Another great option for Chennai Super Kings would be Jason Behrendorff. The Aussie has impressed with his T20 stats and surely be an option that Chennai Super Kings might consider.
The Australian has featured in 7 matches for Australia in T20I and has 7 wickets to his name. In total, he has played 79 T20 matches and has 90 wickets to show with an economy rate of 7.20.
He was picked up by Mumbai Indians for the 2018 season of IPL, however, due to a back injury, he was ruled out of the tournament before it even began. Mumbai retained him for the 2019 season and in 5 matches he picked up 5 wickets with an economy rate of 8.68.
5. Tim Southee
Tim Southee is a former Chennai Super Kings player, who had bowled a magnificent last over for the team on his IPL debut. The right-arm fast bowler has been doing well for the New Zealand cricket team. Also, he is a similar type of bowler like Josh Hazlewood.
Stephen Fleming would know Southee closely, having seen him play for New Zealand and also for CSK in the past. His experience could be a vital factor for CSK in case they rope him in as their replacement player.
6. Hardus Viljoen
Looking at his stats you might say that he isn't the best of options available, but if CSK is required an urgent replacement, who can join the team from the very first match, then Viljoen is the right person because he is already part of CSK camp for IPL 2021 as a net bowler.
However, though his numbers in T20 cricket is not good, he has 445 wickets 115 first-class matches and 131 wickets in 95 List-A matches. That proves that if required he has the ability to pick up wickets at the crucial time.
While all the other options mentioned above (except Hardus Viljoen) will have to go through a mandatory seven-day quarantine period, Hardus Viljoen is the only option who will be available for Chennai Super Kings from the very first match as he has already served his quarantine and is part CSK's training camp as a net bowler.
The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings will begin their IPL 2021 journey from 10th April as they will face Delhi Capitals in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.