Aussies dealt another injury blow for Ashes, World Cup

Australia have been dealt another devastating injury blow, with fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck to miss the remainder of the Ashes and the ODI World Cup in New Zealand with a stress fracture in her right foot.

Vlaeminck missed Saturday's second T20I in Adelaide and was spotted wearing a 'moon boot', now scans have confirmed Australia's worst fears – the same navicular injury that ruled the Victorian out of the 2022 T20 World Cup and the 10 months that followed.

The 23-year-old reported pain during Australia's first Ashes T20I on Thursday.

"Tayla has sustained an acute navicular stress fracture," Australian team doctor Phillipa Inge said.

"She had a similar injury in early 2020; this fracture completely healed and Tayla made a successful return to play to international cricket in March 2021.

"Tayla reported a return in midfoot pain and subsequent images have confirmed a recurrent stress fracture of the navicular. 

"The Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria medical teams will work collaboratively on the immediate management over the coming days and a subsequent return to play plan. She will be unavailable for the Ashes series and ODI World Cup."

Selectors will make a decision on whether a replacement will be called into the Australia squad in due course.

In a cruel coincidence, it was also in Adelaide in February 2020 that scans revealed Vlaeminck’s first navicular fracture. 

The right-armer was in career-best form leading into that tournament on home soil when she experienced pain leading into a warm-up game in Adelaide.

It is another devastating blow for Vlaeminck, who played the first of her 24 matches for Australia as a 19-year-old in 2018 and who is regarded as among the world's quickest bowlers.

Knee and shoulder problems, as well as the 2020 injury to her right foot, have stalled her progress, while she missed three ODIs and the one-off Test against India earlier in the summer following an Achilles complaint.

Australia are already without three key players for the multi-format Ashes, with leg-spinner Georgia Wareham (ACL), left-arm orthodox bowler Sophie Molineux (foot) and batter Beth Mooney (jaw) all sidelined by injury.

Mooney, who underwent surgery on a fractured jaw on Tuesday and was back in the Adelaide Oval nets on Friday facing gentle throwdowns.

Australia remain hopeful the star batter will return at some point this Ashes series, but do not yet have a clear timeline for her return to play.

Molineux is expected to recover from a stress fracture to her foot in time for the ODI World Cup in February and March, but Wareham will be out until at least next summer.

Australia have a number of options who they may call upon to replace Vlaeminck in either their Ashes or World Cup squads.

Teenage NSW quick Stella Campbell is part of the Australia A group and made her international debut in Vlaeminck’s absence against India earlier in the summer, while the uncapped Maitlan Brown is another option.

Within the squad, Darcie Brown is another express pace option who will now shoulder far more responsibility across both campaigns, while Annabel Sutherland may also get her chance in the longer formats.

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes v England

Australia Ashes squad: Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes (vc), Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck

England Ashes squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver (vc), Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt

Australia lead the multi-format series 3-1

Jan 20: Australia won by nine wickets

Jan 22: No Result

Jan 23: Third T20, Adelaide Oval, 2.10pm AEDT

Jan 27-30: Test match, Manuka Oval, 10am AEDT, 

Feb 3: First ODI, Manuka Oval (D/N), 2.10pm AEDT

Feb 6: Second ODI, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT

Feb 8: Third ODI, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT