Jonny Bairstow ruled out for entire IPL season, Punjab Kings name BBL Star Matthew Short as replacement
With less than a week remaining for the forthcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Punjab Kings endured a major blow in the form of Jonny Bairstow. The English cricketer, who has a reputation of being one of the most destructive batter in the format, has been released from the Punjab squad after failing to recover from his injury.
Bairstow ruled out of IPL 2023; Short named as replacement
“We regret to inform you that Jonny Bairstow will not be a part of the IPL this season because of his injury. We wish him the best and look forward to seeing him next season,” Punjab said in a statement.
Bairstow has been sidelined from cricket since September due to a freak incident he suffered while playing golf. However, after a prolonged injury layoff, he is expected to be up and running in some weeks. But given England will play The Ashes in June, the ECB has decided against issuing a NOC to the wicketkeeper-batter for the upcoming season of the cash-rich league.
IPL 2023: Matt Short gets opportunity after replacing Bairstow
Matt Short has been handed a big opportunity to showcase his T20 excellence with an Indian Premier League debut after being snapped up as an emergency replacement by the Punjab Kings.
The Adelaide Strikers star, who was voted player of the tournament in KFC BBL|12, has been drafted in to replace England star Jonny Bairstow, who’s failed to recover from surgery in time for the two-month tournament which begins next week.
Still uncapped, it presents a great opportunity for the 27-year-old Victorian batter, who enjoyed a spectacular Big Bash campaign by scoring 458 runs – the second-highest in the tournament – at an average of 35.23 and strike rate of 144.47.
Short, who’s been in tremendous form for Victoria with three centuries and three half-centuries in his last seven first-class and List A matches, is currently in action in the Sheffield Shield final, and will be flying out afterwards with Punjab’s first match set for next Saturday.
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