Chris Woakes and Welsh Fire (Source: AP Photos and @TheCricketerMag/X.com)
Matt Henry, the star New Zealand pacer, has been named as a replacement by Welsh Fire for the injured Chris Woakes. The English pacer injured his shoulder during the fifth Test against India at the Oval and has been ruled out of The Hundred.
The Kiwi pacer, Henry, on the other hand, was part of the Welsh Fire squad in the last two seasons as well. He has picked 11 wickets so far in the eight matches for Welsh Fire and is an experienced cricketer who has performed well across conditions.
Matt Henry has also been in great form in recent times. He picked 10 wickets in just four matches in the tri-series in Zimbabwe and has improved his death-bowling too, in addition to his supreme new-ball skills. Overall, in T20s, the former LSG bowler has 204 wickets in 166 matches, which makes him a good like-for-like replacement of experienced Chris Woakes.
Matt Henry's Presence Set To Boost Under-Performing Welsh Fire
Matt Henry will now join the likes of Riley Meredith and David Payne in the Welsh Fire bowling attack, providing them with the much-needed boost. In the opening match of the season, Welsh Fire lost to Northern Superchargers by eight wickets, with their bowling attack failing to take wickets and keep the scoring rate in check.
Matt Henry is currently playing a Test match for New Zealand against Zimbabwe, and so is likely to join the squad only after the completion of that game. He would not be available for the game against London Spirit on August 9, but could join the squad before the home game against Manchester Originals on August 13.
Welsh Fire have not done well in the four seasons of The Hundred so far, and would be hoping to turn the tables this time around under the leadership of Tom Abell.
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