Stafanie Taylor ruled out of WBBL05

Stafanie Taylor will not return to Australia to take part in the ongoing fifth season of the Women's Big Bash League. Taylor was due to return to turn up for Adelaide Strikers after the completion of ODI and T20I series against India. However, she couldn't partake in the final ODI and the subsequent five-match T20I series due to collateral ligament sprain to her Knee.

Taylor took part in two matches for Strikers and then was off to West Indies to lead the side against India. Her match-changing innings of 94 in the first ODI was instrumental in West Indies winning the sole match in an otherwise disastrous campaign.

Lauren Winfield, the right-hand batter from England, will now continue to remain with Strikers for two more matches than originally planned. Winfield, though, will not remain available for the finals day as she is off to Malaysia for the series against Pakistan.

In the limited opportunities that Winfield, has got she has played some useful cameos, averaging 20.25 from the six innings.

Luke Williams the head coach of Strikers is naturally very disappointed to not have Taylor in the blue jersey though he sounded confident of his team's chances of making it to the finals.

“We are of course disappointed that Stafanie is unable to return, but unfortunately these things happen in sport," said Williams.

“We’re really grateful, however, that Lauren has been able to stay on longer as she’s just been fantastic around the group and brings a lot, on and off the field."

The Strikers currently sit second in the points table and look poised to make the semis and finals.