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September 7, 2024
Tim Robinson to Replace Moeen Ali and Gurbaz in CPL
New Zealand’s Tim Robinson will step in as a temporary replacement for Moeen Ali and then Gurbaz in the CPL. England allrounder Moeen Ali is making his debut in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with the defending champions, Guyana Amazon Warriors, this season. Moeen is replacing Pakistan opener Saim Ayub, who is unavailable for the entire season.
Ayub’s absence is a significant loss for the Amazon Warriors, as he was a standout player in their 2023 title-winning run. Last season, Ayub scored 478 runs in 13 innings, making him the second-highest run-scorer with a striking average of 43.45 and a strike rate of 142.26. He also hit the most sixes (28) in CPL 2023.
Ayub is missing the CPL due to overlapping commitments with Pakistan’s Test series against Bangladesh and the new Champions One-Day Cup, where he will play for the Panthers.
Moeen Ali’s participation with the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL depends on the Birmingham Bears’ progress in the UK T20 Blast. If the Bears win their quarter-final against Gloucestershire on Friday, they will advance to the Finals Day on September 14, which could affect Moeen’s availability.
Until Moeen arrives, New Zealand’s Tim Robinson will temporarily replace him. Robinson, known for his aggressive batting style, is similar to Finn Allen and is known for hitting big sixes. In the 2023-24 Super Smash, he scored 298 runs in six innings at an impressive average of 59.60 and a strike rate of 187.42, including a standout 139 off 64 balls against Otago.
Robinson made his T20I debut for New Zealand after the Super Smash and recently trained at the Super Kings Academy in Chennai, which could be beneficial in the CPL. This will be Robinson’s first T20 tournament outside of New Zealand.
Even after Moeen joins the Warriors, Robinson will remain with the team to fill in for Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who will leave the CPL after the Barbados leg for international duties.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz will not join the Afghanistan squad for their one-off Test against New Zealand next week but is expected to participate in the three-match ODI series against South Africa in the UAE. The CPL’s Barbados leg ends on September 17, just a day before the ODI series starts.
Gurbaz will rejoin the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the final leg of the CPL in Guyana, replacing Tim Robinson. During Gurbaz’s absence, the Warriors used Gudakesh Motie and Kevin Sinclair as openers in their first two games. Last season, they often promoted pinch-hitters like Keemo Paul to open the batting, but the addition of Moeen Ali and Tim Robinson offers more stability at the top.
The Amazon Warriors have started their title defense strongly, winning both of their opening matches.
Mark Wood, England’s fastest bowler, will be sidelined for the rest of the year due to a bone-stress injury in his right elbow. As a result, he will miss the upcoming Test tours to Pakistan and New Zealand.
Wood was already withdrawn from the ongoing series against Sri Lanka as a precaution after suffering a right thigh strain during the first Test at Old Trafford. He later had what was expected to be a routine scan on his elbow, only to discover a more serious issue. Wood shared the disappointing news on Instagram, revealing that he had received some “pretty rubbish news.”
“During what I thought was routine check on a previously troublesome elbow, I was shocked to learn I’ve got some bone stress in my right elbow,” Wood wrote.
Mark Wood will miss England’s final six Tests of 2024, including three against Pakistan in October and three against New Zealand in December, due to a bone-stress injury in his right elbow.
Wood will continue working with the ECB medical team to recover fully by early 2025, aiming to be fit for England’s white-ball tour of India and the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan, both scheduled to start in February 2025.
Wood’s injury comes after some of the fastest bowling of his career. In the July Trent Bridge Test against the West Indies, he reached a top speed of 97.1mph, impressing with a performance that included a broken forearm for Kevin Sinclair. Despite a strong showing, including a five-wicket haul at Edgbaston, Wood was limited to just 18.2 overs in the Sri Lanka series before being withdrawn.
“After the minor groin injury at Emirates Old Trafford, me and the medical team felt it was a good time to get my elbow looked at as it was a bit irritated,” Wood added in his Instagram post. “I’d put that down to the normal niggles every fast bowler gets and which I was playing through.”
“I’m especially surprised because I’ve been playing Test cricket and kept my speeds up.”
“I work incredibly hard on my fitness, putting in extra work with coaches and physios making this even more disappointing. However, I guess this is, ‘part of being a fast bowler’, like Stokesy says.”
“I will miss the rest of the year needing time to rest and build up, fully expecting to be back and firing in early 2025. I have been down this path before and will put in all the hard yards behind the scenes. I am very proud to represent my country and there is no better feeling. See you for some rockets in 2025!”
With Mark Wood out, Olly Stone was recalled for last week’s Test at Lord’s, marking his first Test appearance since back surgery three years ago. Additionally, 20-year-old left-arm seamer Josh Hull made his debut in the ongoing third Test at The Oval.
Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for The Wicket Insider, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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