Australia’s women’s cricket team has suffered a setback with the news that opener Phoebe Litchfield has been ruled out of the playing eleven for the third ODI against Bangladesh on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old left-hander is dealing with a minor hip muscle strain, which has forced her to withdraw from the match. This injury also puts her participation in the upcoming T20 series against in jeopardy.
Litchfield sustained the injury during her impressive 71-run innings in the second ODI on Sunday. As the Australian team prepares for the first T20 against New Zealand, concerns fitness loom large.
Acting captain Tahlia McGrath confirmed Litchfield’s injury during the toss. In her absence, all-rounder Nicola Carey has been included in the playing eleven for the first time in the three-match ODI series. Additionally, wicketkeeper-batter Beth Mooney has been promoted to open the innings.
This injury comes at a challenging time as Australia faces a relatively weaker opponent. With Sophie Molineux battling hip issues and Lucy Hamilton recovering from a quadriceps injury, the host team is down to just 12 available players for the ODI against Bangladesh.
Grace Harris has traveled to Brisbane as a cover for the team. After missing selection for the T20 squad, she is set to return to action on Thursday in the Brisbane Heat’s T20 Spring Challenge campaign.
Despite these injury concerns, Australia has already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ODI series against Bangladesh, having won the first match by seven wickets and the second by nine wickets. The third ODI is particularly significant for Beth Mooney, as it marks her 100th ODI appearance.