BIG BLOW for Lucknow Super Giants, Mark Wood to miss final stages of IPL 2023

The LSG pacer is set to fly back to England in the coming weeks and is unlikely to return to India.

BIG BLOW for Lucknow Super Giants, Mark Wood to miss final stages of IPL 2023

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) might miss the services of their marquee pacer, Mark Wood in the latter half of IPL 2023. The England pacer who took a five-wicket haul on his debut for LSG against Delhi Capitals, might fly back home in May for the birth of his daughter. Notably, Wood and his wife Sarah are expecting their second child towards the end of May.

The LSG pacer is set to fly back to England in the coming weeks and is unlikely to return to India, an ESPNCrincinfo report has claimed. Wood has been a vital cog in the LSG bowling unit as the pacer has controlled the middle overs. In his four appearances for the Lucknow-based franchise, Wood has scalped 11 wickets at an average of 11.82.

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Mark Wood Bowling

However, Wood missed a few games due to illness and Naveen-ul-Haq replaced the pacer in the LSG playing XI. Haq has done a fair job so far claiming a solitary wicket in two matches and containing runs at the fag end of the innings. But Wood is still a leading pacer for LSG for his raw pace and ability to stun batters anytime.

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“Mark Wood is set to miss the final stages of IPL 2023 to attend the birth of his daughter in late May…He and his wife Sarah are expecting their second child towards the end of May, and Wood will fly home at some point in the coming weeks in order to be present at the birth. At this stage, it appears unlikely that he would return to India afterwards,” claimed the report.

It will be interesting to see if the KL Rahul-led team will bring in any replacement in case Wood flies back to England.

LSG looking to bounce back after heartbreak against Gujarat

lsg vs gt

Coming to the LSG campaign in IPL 2023 so far, the KL Rahul-led team has won four out of seven matches played so far. Lucknow lost their third game of the season against Gujarat Titans when they failed to chase a sub-par target of 136. Nevertheless, LSG will be hoping for a comeback when they face Punjab Kings on 28 April.

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