Shamar Joseph signs with the Lucknow Supergiants after the ECB's release of Mark Wood

Shamar Joseph signs with the Lucknow Supergiants after the ECB's release of Mark Wood

In order to manage Wood's workload before the T20 World Cup and the Test matches against the West Indies and Sri Lanka, the ECB kept Wood out of the IPL 2024.

Mark Wood, an England fast bowler, has left the Lucknow Supergiants to be replaced by Shamar Joseph, a West Indies fast bowler. He will cost Rs 3 crore to join the Supergiants, according to an IPL announcement on Saturday.

Since England will host the West Indies and Sri Lanka for Test matches in the domestic summer, as well as the T20 World Cup in June, ESPNcricinfo believes that the ECB has decided not to include centrally contracted player Wood in the IPL 2024 in order to manage his workload. Jofra Archer's participation in the IPL 2024 auction has been suspended by the ECB as they oversee his recuperation from an injury till the T20 World Cup.

Prior to the 2022 season, Wood was acquired by the Supergiants at Rs 7.50 crore in an auction. But he had an elbow injury that season, which kept him out. In four IPL 2023 games, Wood claimed 11 wickets at an average of 11.82.

In the Test match that the West Indies lost in Adelaide, Joseph made his debut for the team in the drawn series against Australia, dismissing Steven Smith with the first delivery. After leading the West Indies to a thrilling eight-run victory at the Gabba in the second Test, he went on to become a global sensation by taking seven wickets in the last innings despite having an injured leg. Since 1997, the West Indies has not won a Test match in Australia before.

Prior to the West Indies' tour of Australia, Joseph was signed by Dubai Capitals for the ILT20 season. However, he was subsequently ruled out of the Brisbane Test due to a toe injury he received off a yorker ball bowled by Mitchell Starc. However, after his exploits in Australia, he signed a PSL deal with Peshawar Zalmi, which will begin on February 17.

Darren Sammy, the West Indies' white-ball coach, has made suggestions that Joseph may make the T20 World Cup team, despite the fact that Joseph has only participated in two T20 matches in his professional career and has yet to record any wickets. The fast bowler has "created a good headache" for the selectors, he said.

In addition to Joseph, the Super Giants' fast bowling lineup also includes Yash Thakur, David Willey, Mohsin Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Shivam Mavi, and Yudhveer Singh. They also have Arshin Kulkarni, a player for India's Under-19 World Cup, Marcus Stoinis, and Kyle Mayers, all-rounders who can provide them plenty of overs. The Super Giants have been among the top-performing teams in the IPL despite its short history; they finished third in 2022 and 2023 and qualified for the playoffs both years.