3 Players who can replace Ben Stokes: Star English all-rounder Ben Stokes involvement in the upcoming showpiece T20 World Cup 2021 is in doubt following his withdrawal from the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Stokes took an indefinite break from all forms of cricket on 20th July after his successful debut as an ODI skipper for England.
The 30-years old cricketer is also in the recovery process of his finger injury which is sustained during the first match of Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2021. He, recently, informed that he won’t be participating in the IPL 2021 citing personal reasons and RR roped in a replacement for him.
The ICC has asked all the participating teams to submit their squad lists for the T20 World Cup by 10th September, England will have to look for a replacement to fill up the void created by Ben Stokes. Teams have the freedom to make changes to their squads by 10th October.
Down below is the list of 3 Players who can replace all-rounder Ben Stokes if he makes himself unavailable for the T20 World Cup 2021.
3 Players who can replace Ben Stokes in the T20 World Cup 2021:
David Willey:
David Willey will be the front-runner for the replacement of Ben Stokes in the World Cup. The left-hander had an excellent time in the inaugural season of the Hundred with Northern Superchargers.
The southpaw picked up five wickets in the recently concluded season of the Hundred along with scoring 152 runs at a strike rate of 155. His economy remained under 10 with the ball in hand.
Willey has picked up 38 scalps in his T20I career which consists of 32 matches. Moreover, he has also scored 182 runs at a strike rate of 137.
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Craig Overton:
The 27-years old Craig Overton will be a good choice for England as a replacement for Ben Stokes. The lanky all-rounder had a fine outing in the recent T20 Blast, picking 12 wickets in nine matches at an economy of just in excess of seven.
The tall pacer is accurate with the ball and can be a dangerous player for the opposition. He can bowl well-directed bouncers at a decent pace and also has the ability to bowl slower balls in between.
Though Overton doesn’t hold a chance to be a like for like replacement of Ben Stokes, he may get an opportunity in the World Cup and could be a surprise element.
Chris Woakes:
Chris Woakes could be another valuable option for England as a replacement for unavailable Ben Stokes. The 32-years old has the prowess to give breakthroughs in the early part of the innings and can also add crucial runs at the back end of the innings.
He has great control over his wrist and can be a potent option for England in the coming World Cup. Moreover, Woakes has a strike rate of 144 in the T20Is advocates for his calibre to take on bowlers whenever he gets a chance.
The all-rounder made a brilliant comeback in Test cricket recently. He picked up 4 wickets in the first innings against India in the Oval test and also scored a 50 to rescue his team. The pacer has picked two wickets in the third innings, which is currently underway against India in the same test match at Oval.
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