Australia’s home international cricket season has kicked off with the women’s team facing arch-rivals New Zealand in a 3-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series.
With the T20 World Cup approaching in early October 2024 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), much of the pre-series discussion revolved around fielding the best XI. However, injuries have disrupted Australia’s plans, with key players in spin-bowling all-rounder Grace Harris and pacer Kim Garth ruled out of the ongoing series against New Zealand, impacting their World Cup preparations.
It is understood that Grace Harris, who was ruled out of The Hundred 2024 due to a left calf injury, sustained a low-grade right calf strain earlier this week, ruling her out of the New Zealand series. However, she remains on track to be fit for the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Kim Garth is recovering from a left knee injury sustained late in The Hundred 2024. Though she has resumed training, she is being reserved for the World Cup and will be rested from the ongoing bilateral series.
Australia faced another setback when spin-bowling all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner underwent a concussion test after a collision with teammate Georgia Wareham during the pre-game warm-up, causing a delay to the toss.
Shortly after, head coach Shelley Nitschke provided an update on Ashleigh Gardner’s condition, sharing, “… She is good. It’s just a precaution, she is in concussion protocol at the moment. Given we’ve got a fair bit of cricket ahead of us, taking the precaution to rule her out of tonight’s game…”
In a further twist, Suzie Bates, not regular skipper Sophie Devine, stepped out for the toss. It was confirmed by New Zealand Cricket that Sophie had been rested from the series opener to manage her foot injury.
On the eve of the series opener, Sophie Devine told reporters, “I’ve been on a bit of a pathway in terms of making sure that I’m right with the World Cup and we’re trying to make sure that we monitor that. The body’s getting a little bit older now, so we just need to be a bit careful, but I’m certainly looking on track for this series.”
Australia v New Zealand, series squads:
Australia: Alyssa Healy (C), Tahlia McGrath (VC), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Heather Graham, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham
New Zealand: Sophie Devine (C), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu
Australia v New Zealand, series schedule:
First T20I: September 19, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, 7:10 PM (local)
Second T20I: September 22, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, 7:10 PM (local)
Third T20I: September 24, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 7:10 PM (local)
