Ahead of their home international season in 2024-25, the New Zealand women’s cricket team has suffered a setback with in-form opening batter being ruled out for the remainder of the year due to a bone stress reaction in her groin.
A New Zealand Cricket (NZC) media release has confirmed that Georgia Plimmer experienced pain in her left hip joint during a recent One-Day International (ODI) series in India in October, just days after winning the T20 World Cup that same month. A subsequent MRI scan and assessment upon her return home confirmed the injury.
The injury will require six weeks of rest and rehabilitation before Plimmer could return to cricket in January or February 2025. This rules her out of selection for the upcoming home series against Australia, as well as the majority of the 50-over and T20 domestic competitions, the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield and Super Smash respectively.
Commenting on the news, head coach Ben Sawyer stated, “We’re really gutted for this to happen to Georgia when she’s at the top of her game. She’s certainly a loss for us heading into an important series against Australia.
“After her recent success at the World Cup and in India it’s disappointing she won’t be able to continue that form for the Wellington Blaze and against Australia next month. Georgia’s determined to rehab well and get back as soon as she can and we’re wishing her a smooth recovery.”
Plimmer put behind her quiet start to international cricket this season, scoring her maiden fifty against Australia in the lead-up to the 2024 T20 World Cup. At the World Cup, she accumulated 150 runs at an average of 25.00 and a strike rate of 119.04 from 6 outings, including another fifty, her maiden at World Cups.
In the recently concluded ODI series against India, Plimmer continued her good form, registering scores of 25, 41, and 39. While there were hopes she would build on this momentum and set new career-best scores in both ODI and domestic cricket, the injury now delays her return to action.
(Quotes sourced from New Zealand Cricket media release)
Loves all things female cricket
