Shamar Joseph, a rising star in West Indies cricket known for his impressive performance during the Test series against Australia, has secured his debut contract in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He will be joining Lucknow Super Giants, replacing Mark Wood. The IPL confirmed this signing on February 10, announcing that Joseph was acquired for INR 3 crore.
"Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) named Shamar Joseph as replacement for pacer Mark Wood for the upcoming edition of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.Joseph will join LSG for INR 3 Crore. The speedster was recently at the forefront during West Indies’ Test win at the Gabba. He picked 7 wickets in the 2nd innings to script a historic win in Australia for West Indies. This will be Joseph's first stint in the IPL," the IPL website said.
The status of Mark Wood's participation in the tournament remains unclear, with no confirmation whether he has withdrawn or sustained an injury. Wood, who featured in the first Test of the India series in Hyderabad and was rested for the second match in Vizag, made a mark in his brief IPL stint last season by taking 11 wickets in four games, including a notable five-wicket haul against Delhi Capitals.
In his international career for England, Wood has accumulated 104 wickets in 32 Test matches at an average of 30.04, with an economy rate of 3.25. He has also represented England in 66 ODIs, claiming 77 wickets at an economy of 5.52, and has taken 45 wickets in 28 T20Is. Additionally, he was part of the England squad that clinched the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.
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