HIGHLIGHTS

• DC announced the signing of Ben Dwarshius, who played for Worcestershire in the T20 Blast in England
• Dwarshius has taken 100 wickets in 82 T20 matches at an average of 23.73
• Woakes, picked up five wickets in three matches in the first half of the IPL

Delhi Capitals (DC) announced the signing of Australian Ben Dwarshius for the remainder of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) season as a replacement for England’s fast bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes. Woakes withdrew from the second half of the tournament due to personal reasons.

“The Delhi Capitals have announced Australian fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis as Woakes’ replacement for the remainder of the IPL 2021 season,” said the franchise. “Dwarshuis will be joining the Delhi Capitals team bio-bubble in the UAE soon.”

Dwarshuis has taken 100 wickets in 82 T20 matches at an average of 23.73. The 27-year-old, who plays for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League, is the sixth-highest wicket-taker in the history of the tournament with 85 wickets in 69 matches. He last played for in the T20 Blast in England for Worcestershire and is yet to play an international match.

Woakes picked five wickets in three matches in the first half of the IPL. The 32-year-old joined England team mates Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler in pulling out of the tournament.

Bairstow and Woakes both played the fourth Test against India at The Oval and will now make themselves available next for the T20 World Cup after being selected in England’s 15-man preliminary squad.

While few of England’s white-ball specialists will return to their country, the English players who are also in the Test team are due to depart for the Ashes series Down Under after the T20 World Cup.

Dawid Malan was the first to withdraw his name from IPL 2021 on Saturday and was replaced by South African Aiden Markram in the Punjab Kings squad. Ben Stokes (Rajasthan Royals) and Jos Buttler (RR) had already withdrawn, while Jofra Archer (RR) is out until 2022 with an elbow injury.