LSG has announced that Shamar Joseph will replace Mark Wood for IPL 2024. The English pacer was the designated leader of the pace attack. Hence, it is a big blow for the KL Rahul-led franchise. Also, it is a surprise that LSG has gone for a relatively new player, who has the experience of just two T20 encounters. On that note, here, we take a look at three players LSG could have picked instead of Shamar Joseph as Mark Wood’s replacement.
1) Matt Henry
Matt Henry is highly under-rated in the game right now. For a few years now, he has been doing well for New Zealand. He could have been a decent pick for LSG.
Henry is perfectly capable of leading the pace attack. He has the attributes to succeed at Lucknow and also has the experience to do well at other venues.
2) Lance Morris (if fit)
Lance Morris went unsold in IPL 2024 Auctions. He is a fiery fast bowler and would be a very close like-to-like replacement for Mark Wood.
Yes, he lacks the experience of the big stage but he has decent experience playing in tournaments such as the Big Bash League. Hence, the Aussie cricketer is on this list.
3) Kwena Maphaka
Kwena Maphaka is one of the players LSG could have picked instead of Shamar Joseph as Mark Wood’s replacement. If the intention of LSG was to invest in a player for the future, they could have gone for Kwena Maphaka.
The talented left-arm pacer from South Africa was the youngest in the IPL 2024 Auctions. He played really well in the U19 World Cup and it won’t be a surprise if he makes his debut for the senior side now. The youngster is seen as the next-gen Kagiso Rabada and would have been a solid investment for the next few years.
