Jason Behrendorff, left-arm seamer was named by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as a replacement for Josh Hazlewood. Josh Hazlewood, who made his IPL debut in 2020 in the UAE, pulled out of the upcoming IPL 2021 season citing bubble fatigue and COVID-19 concerns as primary reasons.
Josh Hazlewood was supposed to be one of the trump cards for the CSK team who were placed 7th in IPL 2020 in this upcoming IPL 2021 tournament, but, he cited Australia’s upcoming winter season packed with matches and bubble fatigue as reasons for him opting out of the IPL 14. Later he revealed that along with the aforementioned reasons, the current rise of COVID-19 cases in India played a role in him not playing in this season’s IPL.
Josh Hazlewood Decided To Skip IPL 2021 For Taking A Rest As Australia Have A Packed Winter Schedule
Josh Hazlewood was to depart with other Australia’s IPL-bound players and join CSK but decided to skip the cash-rich league, which will start on April 9 and conclude on May 30, and spend time at home for the next two months. He had played 3 IPL matches in IPL 2020.
Josh Hazlewood had decided to withdraw from the T20 cash-rich league to take a small break from cricket and keep himself fresh for the Ashes and the T20 World Cup later this year.
“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. The West Indies is going to be a long tour, with Bangladesh (T20 tour) potentially thrown on the end of that. Then potentially the T20 World Cup leading into the Ashes, so it’s a big 12 months,” Josh Hazlewood told Cricket Australia.
He will spend some time home as Australia doesn’t play an international fixture for the next few months. Josh Hazlewood wasn’t a regular in CSK’s playing XI but was retained, which hints that the franchise had plans for him.
Josh Hazlewood, who has 1 wicket in his 3-match IPL career, had travelled to the UAE last year. He is the third Australian who pulled out of IPL. Josh Philippe, who was retained by Royal Challengers Banglore, had pulled out of the league last month. Later, Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder Mitchell Marsh had also decided against landing in India. He was ruled out of IPL 2020 after just one match. Despite that, SRH had retained him.
CSK Signs Jason Behrendorff For IPL 2021
Chennai Super Kings had previously contacted Billy Stanlake and Reece Topley to sign them as replacements for Josh Hazlewood, but COVID-19 concerns and their respective county contracts led them to refuse the offer to play in the IPL 2021.
Now the IPL website confirmed that another Australian pacer, Jason Behrendorff has been signed by CSK for the IPL 2021. Jason Behrendorff had made his IPL debut in 2019 for MI but spent most of 2020 in rehab after undergoing back surgery.
Now a fit and fine Jason Behrendorff will don the CSK yellow for IPL 2021. Jason Behrendorff, the left-arm quick, has featured in 11 ODIs and seven T20Is so far for Australia. This is his second IPL stint after having represented Mumbai Indians in 2019. He played five matches and picked up as many wickets at that time.
“Australian fast bowler Jason Behrendorff has signed up with the Chennai Super Kings as a replacement for compatriot Josh Hazlewood for the VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement.
Chennai Super Kings will get their IPL 2021 campaign underway on Saturday (April 10) in Mumbai against last year’s runners-up Delhi Capitals.