Punjab Kings batter Jonny Bairstow has been ruled out of the upcoming 2023 Indian Premier League season. He is yet to recover from an ankle injury that he suffered last year while playing golf. Since then, the wicket-keeper batter has been out of action. Punjab Kings named Australian cricketer Matthew Short as his replacement.
Last season, Jonny Bairstow scored 253 runs at an average of 23 and a strike rate of 144.57, including two half-centuries. The franchise will miss his services in the 2023 Indian Premier League season. Announcing the injury update and the replacement, the Punjab Kings wrote,
“We regret to inform you that Jonny Bairstow will not be a part of the IPL this season because of his injury. We wish him the best and look forward to seeing him next season. We are pleased to welcome Matthew Short as his replacement.”
🚨 IMPORTANT UPDATE 🚨
We regret to inform you that Jonny Bairstow will not be a part of the IPL this season because of his injury. We wish him the best and look forward to seeing him next season.
We are pleased to welcome Matthew Short as his replacement.
#PunjabKings pic.twitter.com/NnUMjCe8jV
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) March 25, 2023
It’s a shame not to have Jonny Bairstow: Trevor Bayliss
Punjab Kings Head coach Trevor Bayliss revealed that Jonny Bairstow hasn’t recovered in time for the 2023 Indian Premier League. He wished the England batter a speedy recovery and also welcomed his replacement Matthew Short. In a video shared by the Punjab Kings, Bayliss said,
“Unfortunately, Jonny Bairstow won’t be with us this campaign. His injury hasn’t recovered in time for this year’s IPL. We wish him a speedy recovery. It’s a shame not to have him.”
“But at the same time, we are announcing that Matthew Short, who was the Big Bash player of the season in Australia this year, will be joining us for this IPL 2023,” he added.
Matthew Short had a brilliant 2022-23 Big Bash League season for the Adelaide Strikers. He was the second-leading run-scorer in the league, with 458 runs at an average of 35.23 and a strike rate of 144.47. Short slammed two half-centuries and an unbeaten hundred for the Strikers.
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