'That is something we need to consider' - Shelley Nitschke sheds light on replacements for Alyssa Healy and Tayla Vlaeminck
The Australians galloped to victory against the Pakistanis but lost a couple of key players to injury during the game.
Australia Women are reigning supreme when it comes to their campaign at the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 until now. The three games they have played so far have seen them secure victory without breaking much sweat. However, a couple of injuries in the form of pacer Tayla Vlaeminck and skipper Alyssa Healy on either side of the innings break have been a matter of concern as far as the rest of the tournament is concerned.
Notably, Vlaeminck was out of the contest with a dislocated shoulder on the fourth delivery of the game, injuring herself in a bid to stop a boundary at the third-man fence. Meanwhile, Healy hobbled off the field retiring hurt while batting on an unbeaten 37* off 23 deliveries. Further scans suggested that she had sustained an acute injury to the right foot.
Head coach of Australia Women, Shelley Nitschke, shared her thoughts on the injuries. While she did not specify the magnitude of the injuries, she made it clear that bringing in replacements as soon as possible was on the management's agenda.
"If we have to, yeah (we would bring in replacement players). Two (players) went off injured tonight, so we have to make sure we have got some coverage and it depends on the prognosis of those two injuries, but that is something we need to consider," Nitschke was quoted as saying by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
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Players who might fill the voids created by Vlaeminck and Healy
Both Vlaeminck and Healy are critical components of the Australian machinery. With them getting injured, Australia will have to dig deep when it comes to scouring for suitable alternatives. Kim Garth and Darcie Brown, both right-arm seamers, could come in as direct replacements for Vlaemicnk. On the other hand, Grace Harris could come in for Healy and open the batting. Tahlia McGrath will assume the role of captaincy with Beth Mooney taking on the wicketkeeping duties in the case of Healy getting ruled out.
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