WBBL clubs hit by injury blows

Hobart Hurricanes have suffered a major injury blow with scans confirming star West Indies allrounder Hayley Matthews will spend an extended period on the sidelines due to a knee injury.

Matthews injured her knee during last Sunday’s Rebel WBBL clash against the Melbourne Stars in Burnie, helped from the ground after falling awkwardly while batting.

Scans confirmed Matthews had injured her medial collateral ligament, with the allrounder expected to spend 4-6 weeks out of the game while she recuperates.

"I feel for Hayley as I know how much she loves playing for the Hurricanes,” coach Salliann Briggs said. "We're hopeful she'll be back to play for us later this season and we're all wishing for a speedy recovery."

Matthews has been replaced by England left-arm spinner Alex Hartley. The spinner also appeared for the Hurricanes in their opening match against the Perth Scorchers on December 1, when Matthews was unavailable due to a toe injury.

Mikayla Hinkley also comes into the Hurricanes squad after being called in as an injury replacement for allrounder Emma Thompson, who broke a finger during training.

Meanwhile Perth Scorchers have also been dealt a big blow with Australian captain Meg Lanning to miss this weekend’s matches against the Stars in Melbourne as she continues to recover from a back injury.

Lanning also missed last weekend’s losses to the Sixers and the Heat.

New Zealand international Hayley Jensen, who played as a local for the Renegades last summer before winning a recall to the White Ferns ranks, has been called into the Scorchers squad as a replacement for the 26-year-old.

“Hayley has shown over several years she’s a terrific all-round talent,” Scorchers coach Lisa Keightley said.

“She’s the reigning Una Paisley medallist as the best player in Victorian Women’s Premier Cricket where she’s also made plenty of runs as well as taking wickets.

“Unfortunately Meg’s back is still not quite right, but she isn’t too far away from returning to the squad.”

The Sydney Thunder will be without Australian vice-captain Rachael Haynes for their matches in Hobart, with the star batter rested, but there’s been good news for the Melbourne Stars who have welcomed back captain Kristen Beams who is making her comeback from a long-term Achilles injury.

Saturday’s WBBL action will see the Sydney Thunder meet the Adelaide Strikers at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena at 2.20pm AEDT before the Hurricanes take on the Sixers (7pm AEDT).

At Melbourne’s Casey Fields, the Stars host the Scorchers at 10am AEDT.

WBBL squads December 14-15

Hurricanes squad: Sasha Moloney (c), Brooke Hepburn (vc), Stefanie Daffara, Ashley Day, Erin Fazackerley, Katelyn Fryett, Corinne Hall, Alex Hartley, Mikayla Hinkley, Heather Knight, Smriti Mandhana, Meg Phillips, Veronica Pyke, Rhiann O’Donnell, Georgia Redmayne

Scorchers squad: Megan Banting, Nicole Bolton, Hayleigh Brennan, Kate Cross, Bhavisha Devchand, Lauren Ebsary, Heather Graham, Hayley Jensen, Amy Jones, Emma King, Taneale Peschel, Chloe Piparo and Elyse Villani.

Strikers squad: Suzie Bates (c), Sophie Devine, Megan Schutt, Tahlia McGrath, Katelyn Pope, Danielle Hazell, Sarah Coyte, Tegan McPharlin, Bridget Patterson, Alex Price, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Tabatha Saville, Samantha Betts

Stars squad: Kristen Beams (c), Makinley Blows, Elly Donald, Mignon du Preez, Georgia Elwiss, Nicole Faltum, Holly Ferling, Nicola Hancock, Alana King, Lizelle Lee, Katie Mack, Erin Osborne, Chloe Rafferty, Angela Reakes, Annabel Sutherland

Sixers squad: Erin Burns, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Marizanne Kapp, Carly Leeson, Sara McGlashan, Ellyse Perry (c), Hayley Silver-Holmes, Lauren Smith, Dane van Niekerk, Tahlia Wilson