Drakes to join CSK for the remainder of IPL

(ESPNCRICINFO) – Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have named West Indian all-
rounder Dominic Drakes as injured Sam Curran’s replacement for the remainder
of the IPL. Curran was ruled out of the ongoing IPL and the upcoming men’s T20
World Cup on Tuesday with a lower-back injury.
Drakes, who was with Mumbai Indians as a net bowler in the UAE, will join CSK
– who have qualified for the playoffs – ahead of their last league match, against
Punjab Kings on October 7. The 23-year old, who was part of St Kitts & Nevis
Patriots led by Dwayne Bravo in the CPL, played a crucial role in their successful
campaign this season.
The left-arm quick claimed 16 wickets in 11 matches, but his most important
contribution of the season came with the bat – he hit an unbeaten 48 off 24 in the
final against St Lucia Kings and was named Player-of-the-Match. In 19 T20s so
far, he has picked 20 wickets and has scored 153 runs at a strike rate of 159.37.
Curran, meanwhile, played only two matches for CSK in the UAE leg. He had a
poor season with the ball, leaking 56 runs and 55 runs in the matches against
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) respectively in addition
to remaining wicketless.
Overall this season, he picked up nine wickets in nine games and scored 56 runs
in four innings.