The West Indies cricket team has faced a significant setback as veteran all-rounder Jason Holder has been ruled out of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 due to an injury. This unexpected development has led to the inclusion of left-arm fast bowler Obed McCoy as his replacement.

Jason Holder’s Injury

Jason Holder, the experienced stalwart of the West Indies team, sustained an injury during the County Championship 2024. The injury was severe enough to require a substantial recovery period, effectively ruling him out of participating in the T20 World Cup. Holder’s absence is a considerable loss for the West Indies, given his experience and influence on the field.

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Obed McCoy: The Replacement

Obed McCoy, who steps in to replace Holder, is a promising left-arm fast bowler. McCoy’s cricketing journey has been impressive, marked by his ability to deliver under pressure. Recently, he was the leading wicket-taker during the West Indies A’s tour to Nepal, where he grabbed eight wickets in five matches. His selection is a testament to his growing prowess and potential to shine internationally.

Desmond Haynes’ Statement

Desmond Haynes, the Lead Selector for West Indies, expressed his thoughts on Holder’s injury and McCoy’s selection. “Jason is an experienced player in our set-up. His absence will undoubtedly be felt both on and off the field. We look forward to having a fully fit Jason with us again soon,” Haynes said. He also expressed confidence in McCoy’s abilities, highlighting his remarkable skill and promise.

Reserve Players

In preparation for further contingencies, West Indies has named five reserve players: Kyle Mayers, Matthew Forde, Fabian Allen, Hayden Walsh, and Andre Fletcher. Each player brings unique skills and has proven their capabilities in various game formats. Their readiness to step in if needed adds depth to the squad.

Coach Daren Sammy’s Views

Daren Sammy, the head coach and two-time T20 World Cup winner, expressed his confidence in the team and the reserves. “We are fortunate to have such depth and quality in our ranks. Our reserve players are all A-class talents who have proven their abilities in various game formats, but certainly T20. Each of them is fully capable of slotting into the team seamlessly should the situation arise,” Sammy stated.

West Indies Updated Squad: Rovman Powell (c), Alzarri Joseph (vc), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd. Reserves: Kyle Mayers, Matthew Forde, Fabian Allen, Hayden Walsh, and Andre Fletcher

In a continuing sign of T20 franchise owners gravitating towards players they already know and trust, Paarl Royals snapped up the South African duo of David Miller and uncapped allrounder Corbin Bosch, England’s new white-ball captain Jos Buttler and West Indies fast bowler Obed McCoy. All four have worked for these owners before – in the IPL with Rajasthan Royals – and will continue to do so now in the upcoming CSA T20 League

According to tournament rules, a team can sign a maximum of one capped South African, three overseas players and an uncapped player ahead of the players auction. So far, the Durban franchise – owned by the same group that manages Lucknow Super Giants and comprising the same core of players who helped take LSG to the knockout stages of IPL 2022 – and MI Cape Town have announced their picks. Buttler bossed this year’s IPL for the Royals, scoring a whopping 863 runs, an average of 57.53 and a strike rate of 149.05. He hit four centuries and smashed 45 sixes and was also the leading run-getter of the competition.

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Royals now stepping into CSA league, Buttler, McCoy big names

Miller, who was part of the IPL title-winning Gujarat Titans, amassed a total of 449 runs at a strike rate of 141.19. He was eighth in the list of leading run-getters this season – and second behind captain Hardik Pandya for the Titans. McCoy, who represented Royals in the IPL this year, chipped in with 11 wickets from seven matches at an economy over nine. Early this month, he picked up his career-best figures for West Indies against India in the second T20I which the hosts won by five wickets.

The uncapped South African Bosch joined the Rajasthan franchise this IPL as a replacement for injured fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile, but didn’t get to play a single match. The 27-year old, who plays for the Titans in domestic cricket, is a seam-bowling allrounder who bats in the lower-middle order. Having made his T20 debut in 2014, he has played only 30 games, scoring 151 runs at a strike rate of 120.80 and picking up 18 wickets at an economy of 8.16. He has also played 24 first-class games and 21 List A games.

The CSA release on Wednesday also said the player auction would take place “in the next few weeks” before the league begins in January 2023. All six franchises have been bought by groups that own teams in the IPL and the league is likely to allow four overseas players in the playing XI with no requirements for transformation as of now.

RR stormed to their first IPL final since winning the title in the inaugural season in 2008, beating RCB by seven wickets in Ahmedabad. The win was set up by their bowlers; Prasidh Krishna and Obed McCoy picked up three wickets each to restrict Royal Challengers to 157 for 8. Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal then added 61 in just 5.1 overs for the first wicket, breaking the back of the chase. RR opener Jaiswal fell for 21 off 13 but Buttler was unstoppable.

Such was RR dominance that the spectators had started leaving the stadium even before the game was over. When Buttler hit the winning hit, a six over wide long-on off Harshal Patel, there were still 11 balls remaining.

After winning the toss, RR Skipper Sanju Samson had said the pitch looked a bit sticky. While not many balls stopped on the batters, there was extra bounce and movement – both in the air and off the surface – on offer for seamers. Kohli flicked RR Trent Boult for six over deep square leg in the first over but fell to Prasidh in the next, trying to steer a back-of-length delivery behind point only to edge to the keeper.At the end of four overs, Royal Challengers were 25 for 1. Then Faf du Plessis got two fours – one of them via a gloved pull that just evaded Samson – off Boult.

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RR takes the easy win against the Royals to bag a ticket to the finals with the Titans

At one point, du Plessis was batting on 22 off 21 and Patidar on 20 off 19. Then Patidar teed off, launching Yuzvendra Chahal over long-on for a six. In the 11th over, he had another slice of luck as his slash off McCoy just beat Ashwin at short third man. RR pacer McCoy did put an end to du Plessis’ struggles, sending him back for a 27-ball 25, but Glenn Maxwell came in and hit two sixes off the first balls he faced. Then, he mistimed a pull off Boult in the 14th over and was caught at fine leg.

Royal Challengers were 132 for 4 after 16 overs and looked set to reach at least 170. But Chahal, McCoy and Prasidh conceded only 25 off the last four overs. The 19th over from Prasidh was the one that really pegged Royal Challengers back. Off the first ball, he removed Karthik as the batter toe-ended one to long-on. Next, he flattened Wanindu Hasaranga’s middle and leg stumps with a searing yorker. Harshal survived the hat-trick ball but the damage had been done.

It wasn’t a big target. On top of that, Buttler and Jaiswal gave Royals a flying start. Jaiswal started by hitting Mohammed Siraj for two sixes and a four in the first over. In the seamer’s next over, Buttler took him for two fours and six. Maxwell slipped in a quiet over before Buttler took apart Shahbaz Ahmed, smashing him for two sixes and a four. Hazlewood got rid of Jaiswal in the last over of the powerplay but there was no stopping Buttler who brought up his fifty off just 23 balls. Samson had a slow start and was on 4 off 7 balls before skipping down to Shahbaz and hitting him over long-on.

Having reached 66 off 33 balls, Buttler edged Harshal behind the stumps but Karthik dropped the catch. Hasaranga, though, nailed his match-up when he had Samson stumped off a googly for 23 off 21 balls. He has now dismissed Samson six times in 34 balls while giving away only 25 runs. Despite only 14 runs coming from overs 12 to 15, Royals still needed just 32 from the last five overs. Buttler then hit Hasaranga for two sixes in an over, crossing 800 runs for the season in the process. He reached his hundred off 59 balls and then wrapped up the game with his sixth six of the night