IPL 2021: 3 possible replacements for Josh Hazlewood
The Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood has withdrawn his name from IPL 2021 due to some personal reasons. The 30-year-old wants some time to spend with his family before the arrival of the T20 World Cup.
"It's been a long 10 months in bubbles and quarantine at different times, so I decided to have a rest from cricket and spend some time at home and in Australia in the next two months."
"We've got a big winter ahead too. The West Indies is going to be a long tour, with Bangladesh (T20 tour) potentially thrown at the end of that. Then potentially the T20 World Cup leading into the Ashes, so it's a big 12 months, as it always is with Australia."
"And I want to give myself the best chance to be mentally and physically ready for that. That's the decision I've made, and it sits pretty well with me," Josh Hazlewood said to cricket.com.au.
After Mitchell Marsh, the right-arm fast bowler became the second Australian cricketer to withdraw his name from the list. However, let's have a look at the three players who can be better replacement for CSK ahead of the IPL 2021.
3. Sean Abbott
The Australian pacer Sean Abbott could be a good option in place of Josh Hazlewood for Chennai Super Kings. He has the ability to give the breakthrough in the middle overs as he uses the slower balls and bouncers really well.
Like Josh Hazlewood, Sean Abbott also read the conditions of the game and hit the right areas with the help of his height. The latter has played 94 T20s and picked up 115 wickets as he still went unsold in the IPL Auction 2021 who priced at INR 50 Lakhs.
2. Mitchell McClenaghan
We all know that Mitchell McClenaghan was once featured in the Mumbai Indians squad and did well with the ball. But the arrival of Trent Boult made him get lesser opportunities as he delivered his best for the side.
However, Dhoni might take a look at this left-arm fast bowler who can scalp wickets in the powerplay overs and can contain runs at the end. Mitchell McClenaghan has played 56 games in IPL and plucked 71 wickets to his name.
Like Sean Abbott, he also didn't find any bidders and went unsold in the player's auction who priced at 50 Lakhs.
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1. Billy Stanlake
The tall and lanky bowler will be the favourite to replace Josh Hazlewood ahead of the cash-rich contest. Billy Stanlake is considered the T20 specialist who can do the magic whenever his team needs him to do.
The latter has the ability to adjust according to the conditions and vary his line and length with some extra pace. He has played over 70 T20s and got 81 scalps in his bag. Despite doing so, the 26-year-old went unsold in the auction after being priced for INR 1 Crore.