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Due to a side strain he sustained during the West Indies’ June 19 Super Eight loss to England, opening batsman Brandon King will miss the balance of the T20 World Cup 2024.
Kyle Mayers, a left-handed opener, will take King’s place on the team for the remainder of the competition. On Saturday, Mayers is probably going to reunite with the team.
Jos Buttler, the captain of England, put King into the bat and he blasted 23 off only 12 balls, including a 101-meter six off Reece Topley in the third over. However, King hurt himself on the thirteenth ball when attempting to sprint down the track to smash Sam Curran through cover. Despite receiving medical attention from the crew, he was unable to continue and retired hurt on 23. Ultimately, West Indies lost by eight wickets.
Shimron Hetmyer replaced King in the run-chase as he did not field. He didn’t make it through his MRI tests, thus he didn’t fly to Barbados for the West Indies’ Super Eight match against the USA on Friday.
“The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 has approved left-handed batter Kyle Mayers as a replacement for Brandon King in the West Indies squad,” an ICC release read. “Mayers, who has played 37 T20Is, was named as a replacement after King was ruled out due to a side strain. Mayers is expected to join the squad on Saturday.”
With a maximum score of 34 against Papua New Guinea, the 29-year-old managed just 86 runs in five innings, not exactly lighting up the T20 World Cup.
His substitute Mayers had a respectable 2024, thus it was generally thought to be sad that he missed the first cut. This year, in 11 Twenty20 matches, the left-hander has amassed 367 runs at an average of 155.50. With his medium pace, he has also claimed nine wickets.
West Indies began the Super Eight with a loss despite winning four of their four group stage games. They play South Africa on Sunday at North Sound, Antigua, following their Friday match against the USA in Barbados.