Australia’s Tayla Vlaeminck suffers shoulder mishap in bid to return to international cricket

Australia pacer Tayla Vlaeminck sustained an instability in her left shoulder in a bid to return to international cricket following a lengthy injury lay-off. Notably, the 24-year-old quick was included in the Australia A setup for the match against England A after enduring a foot fracture which kept her confined to the sidelines. 

However, as per latest developments, Vlaeminck sustained yet another injury, suffering instability in her left shoulder during the 50-over clash against England A on Sunday, July 2. The medical team will assess the situation to hand her the green signal for her return to Australia in the coming weeks.

Speaking about the matches, Australia A brushed aside England A, winning the three-match ODI series 3-0. In the first ODI, Vlaeminck claimed one wicket but gave away 59 runs in mere five overs at a dismal economy of 11.80. In the third ODI, too, she proved to be expensive as she gave away 23 runs in her 2.4 overs despite racking up a wicket and was subsequently injured.

Prior to Vlaeminck's comeback match in June, Shawn Flegler, Cricket Australia's Female High Performance and Talent Manager, opined that the pacer will need to focus on white-ball games at present, considering her recurring stress fracture in the navicular bone of her right foot.

"We will just focus on white-ball stuff for the time being. That's all I have said to her. Let's get through that. She has to build confidence again that she can get through two games, and get her through a tour, and keep reassessing as time goes on,” said Flegler, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Vlaeminck has featured in 15 T20Is and eight ODIs, getting 13 and seven wickets, respectively. She has also appeared in one Test match; however, failed to get any breakthroughs in the contest. Speaking about the national team, Australia are in the midst of the Women’s Ashes 2023 and are to play the must-win match in the third T20I on Saturday, July 8, after getting on level terms 1-1 with England in the series.