English seamer David Willey, who was set to debut for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2024, has been ruled out of the tournament due to personal reasons. Willey, a left-arm pacer, was acquired by LSG at his base price of INR 2 crore in the 2024 auction.

LSG Names Willey’s Replacement

The Lucknow franchise has moved swiftly to find a replacement, signing New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry. The right-arm pacer joins LSG at his base price of INR 1.25 crore. This will be Henry’s third stint in the IPL, having previously played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Punjab Kings (PBKS).

Despite representing two other teams previously, Henry has only played in two IPL matches so far, both for Punjab Kings in the 2017 season, where he managed to take one wicket.

However, Henry brings a wealth of international experience to the LSG bowling attack. The 32-year-old has featured in 25 Tests, 82 ODIs and 17 T20Is for New Zealand, claiming a combined total of 256 wickets across formats. He boasts an impressive overall record in T20 cricket, having picked up 151 wickets in 131 matches at a miserly economy rate of 8.39.

LSG Bolsters Bowling Options

Henry’s addition strengthens the LSG bowling department, which already includes young guns like Mohsin Khan, Yash Thakur, Shamar Joseph and Shivam Mavi.

Henry’s experience and wicket-taking ability will be crucial for LSG’s campaign as they aim to make a strong impression in the ongoing IPL season.

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