Tayla Vlaeminck, the talented Australian fast bowler, has faced another setback in her battle to regain full fitness. The Melbourne Renegades player is set to miss her fourth straight Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season as she continues to recover from shoulder reconstruction surgery.
Vlaeminck had high hopes for her return when the season kicks off on November 9. She and the medical team at Cricket Australia were optimistic that this season could mark her comeback after she dislocated her right shoulder during the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Unfortunately, her recovery hasn’t gone as expected. Kate Beerworth, the physiotherapist for Australia’s women’s team, explained that the injury required reconstruction surgery and that ongoing limitations have hindered her rehabilitation, preventing her from progressing in her bowling.
In a heartfelt statement, Vlaeminck expressed her disappointment about missing the season, saying she was “obviously shattered.” She acknowledged, “My shoulder’s just not loving bowling at the moment. … We sort of lined up Big Bash to be that sort of end point… in the last sort of four weeks… it just hasn’t responded the way we thought it would.”
She added that she doesn’t feel confident enough to perform for the Renegades under the current circumstances. This will mark the fourth consecutive WBBL season that she misses due to injuries, which have included a navicular stress fracture in her foot and previous surgeries on her shoulder.
Since February 2020, Tayla has managed to play only 21 state and Big Bash matches, along with 13 international appearances. Despite repeated injury challenges, she remains under contract with Cricket Australia and has expressed gratitude for the ongoing support from both her national board and her club.
“I think the whole way through; CA has been amazing. Even offering me the contract this year after not having played a lot of cricket, was massive for me,” she shared.
James Rosengarten, the General Manager of the Renegades, acknowledged the possibility of her absence this season due to her injury but emphasised that her health and readiness to perform at her best are priorities. In her absence, the club will look to younger pace bowlers like Sara Kennedy and Milly Illingworth to step up.
Tayla burst onto the cricket scene as a teenager, impressing everyone with her raw speed and effortless bowling action, earning her comparisons to some of Australia’s all-time greats. She made her international debut in 2018 against Pakistan and quickly became a crucial part of Australia’s fast-bowling lineup. Known for consistently bowling at speeds over 120 km/h, she played pivotal roles in the 2018 and 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cups, showcasing her speed and bounce.
Despite the injuries that have hampered her career, her story is one of perseverance and strength. She is recognised as one of the few genuine pace leaders in women’s cricket, able to unsettle batters with her fiery deliveries. Her absence is a tough loss not just for the Renegades but also for Australia’s long-term bowling strategy, especially with the next T20 World Cup coming up.
As she focuses on rebuilding her strength and getting her rhythm back, the cricketing world remains hopeful that Tayla Vlaeminck will return to the sport stronger than ever. Her journey, marked by courage and resilience, is far from over. For now, everyone is waiting patiently for the day when she can once again take the field with the same explosive pace that once had.
(Quotes sourced from cricket.com.au)
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