Jason Behrendorff cricket: Has Josh Hazlewood’s IPL 2021 replacement played in the IPL before?

Jason Behrendorff: Chennai Super Kings have roped in an Australian pacer to replace Josh Hazlewood in Indian Premier League 2021.

Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings have included Australia fast bowler Jason Behrendorff as a replacement for a fellow Australian in Josh Hazlewood.

Following the likes of batsman Josh Philippe and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, Hazlewood had become the third Australian player to opt out of the imminent 14th season of the IPL in order to spend time at home with “friends and family”.

In the 10 overs that Hazlewood had bowled across three T20s in his maiden IPL season last year, his solitary wicket had come at an average of 64.

Has Jason Behrendorff played in the IPL before?

Having received such a blow even before the start of the tournament, Super Kings were bound to name a replacement. In what was also our first-choice option of replacing Hazlewood, CSK have roped in a 30-year old left-arm fast bowler from Western Australia.

Behrendorff, who has played in 18 white-ball matches at the highest level, had last represented Australia during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

In the recently concluded 10th season of the Big Bash League, Behrendorff’s 16 wickets had come at an economy and strike rate of 7.03 and 19.8 respectively. His impressive show for Perth Scorchers even earned him a T20I recall for the tour of New Zealand.

It was in IPL 2019 that Behrendorff had made his IPL debut representing Mumbai Indians in five T20s. Behrendorff’s five IPL wickets have come at an average of 33, an economy rate of 8.68 and a strike rate of 22.80.

At Super Kings, Behrendorff will compete for the overseas bowler’s spot with the likes of Lungi Ngidi, Sam Curran and Dwayne Bravo.