IPL 2024 | How Is Luke Wood A Perfect Replacement For Jason Behrendorff?

Wood is heading to India for his maiden IPL stint [X.com]Wood is heading to India for his maiden IPL stint [X.com]

Mumbai Indians (MI) on Monday (March 18) announced talented pacer Luke Wood as a replacement for the injured Jason Behrendorff ahead of the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). 

Having lost their Australian left-arm quick even before the start of the tournament, the five-time champions have roped in a like-for-like replacement from England for the IPL 2024, starting March 22. 

With Behrendorff's untimely injury proving to be a blessing for him, Wood has been identified as the new-ball swing merchant's ideal swap in a fast-bowling department led by ace speedster Jasprit Bumrah after impressive performances in domestic T20 leagues. 


Why Wood Is Ideal Replacement For Behrendorff 

Enjoying a magnificent run with the ball in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the 28-year-old England and Lancashire left-arm pacer is now set for his maiden appearance in the marquee Indian T20 league. 

Wood, who has featured in 2 ODIs and 5 T20Is at the international stage, finished as Peshawar Zalmi's highest wicket-taker in PSL 2024, with his 12 wickets arriving at an economy rate of 8.24. 

Apart from showing his wicket-taking prowess inside the powerplay and death-overs mettle, the promising cricketer also emerged as a decent lower-order batter and smashed his runs at a strike rate of 136.66 for the Zalmi franchise, an area where he is certainly an upgrade on the unfortunate Behrendorff. 

Wood is an exceptional exponent of the shining new Kookaburra ball in the powerplay field-restriction phase, with his left-arm angle and ability to generate late swing adding to the woes of the top-order opposition players. 


Wickets
Economy
Average
SR
BBI
Luke Wood PP Record in T20s
667.7628.522.03/8

The talented pacer is capable of replicating the threat posed by Behrendorff at the start of the innings and make a huge impact on MI's fortunes if given the opportunity. 

Wood's influx retains the strength about MI's pace department despite injury concerns also brewing over Sri Lankan pacer Dilshan Madushanka and South African Gerald Coetzee making a comeback from his rehab.