BAN-W vs AUS-W: Darcie Brown ruled out with stress injury

Australia's star speedster Darcie Brown has been ruled out of Australia's tour of Bangladesh after suffering a foot stress injury. Australia, led by Alyssa Healy, will play three ODIs and as many T20Is during the tour starting on March 21.

Brown was scheduled to travel to Dhaka on Saturday, March 16, alongside her teammates. The 21-year-old will now stay back in Adelaide after a detailed scan indicated a stress injury to the navicular bone in her left foot. Cricket Australia's medical team is extremely serious about her issue, given Australia quick Tayla Vlaeminck had been out of action for a longer period due to serious navicular stress injuries. However, the time interval for the 21-year-old's rehabilitation is yet to be announced.

Following Brown's exclusion, Grace Harris was named in the ODI squad, with the latter being earlier included only in the T20I side. All-rounder Heather Graham, who was named as standby for the series, will be sidelined due to an undisclosed medical issue. Brown's injury will likely pave the way for Vlaeminck to take on greater responsibility.

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Vlaeminck, the right-arm fast bowler, who last played an international game in January 2022, was recalled to the squad after recovering from shoulder surgery. The 25-year-old suffered the injury during Australia A's tour of the United Kingdom in June 2023, following her subsequent severe foot injuries.

Meanwhile, Australian players who were not involved in the 2024 Women’s Premier League (WPL), including – Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt, and Vlaeminck will travel to Bangladesh on Saturday and will link up with their teammates who have been taking part in the ongoing event in India.

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Captain Alyssa Healy, Ashleigh Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Grace Harris, and Tahlia McGrath all have finished their duty in the WPL after their respective teams failed to qualify for the knockouts. Star all-rounder Annabel Sutherland might travel to Dhaka lately after her team Delhi Capitals qualified for the final which is scheduled to be held on Sunday, March 17 in Delhi.

Meanwhile, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, and Sophie Molineux who are currently representing Royal Challengers Bangalore in the league may also arrive late in Bangladesh if the Smriti Mandhana-led side outplays defending champions Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator on Friday, March 15.

Australia squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (vc), Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Tayla Vlaeminck