In what could be a crucial blow the hosts, Australia skipper Meg Lanning said that allrounder Ellyse Perry would not be available for them in the first T20I against New Zealand in Brisbane on Saturday (September 25).
"She's still working through her return-to-play plan," Lanning said. "When she ticks off all those markers, she'll be available, but she's still working through that so we won't see her tomorrow," she said.
Perry, who suffered a hamstring injury during the T20 World Cup match against New Zealand, missed the remaining games of the tournament. However, a replacement wasn't announced, and she was a part of the Australia squad that won the World Cup.
Soon after she had to undergo surgery from which she is still recovering. Speaking ahead of the T20I series, Perry had hinted that she could be missing a few matches.
“It might not be possible or sensible to play all of the games. Hopefully, there’s an opportunity where I can play in some of them. Obviously, they are still a few weeks away. There’s a couple of things to tick off,” she had said.
Lanning spoke on the similar lines today adding that Perry is doing everything she can to be a part of the XI. "She's got a very good plan in place – everyone has looked after her, and once she gets through that she'll be available," she added.
In the absence of Perry, Lanning would be expecting the likes of Jess Jonassen, Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland and Nicola Carey to step up for the team.
The 28-year-old also said that with the three T20I and three ODI matches in the series, she would expect Perry to be available for playing at some point in time.
"There are six games in pretty quick succession but we're pretty confident we'll have everybody (excluding Perry) to pick from," Lanning concluded.
/womenscriczone-channel/media/agency_attachments/Xa2a0Nz7cFM0kB0u4tLp.png)
Follow Us/womenscriczone-channel/media/post_banners/fp5NSXPKrwkYz1ZG3P0y.jpg)