Australia captain Alyssa Healy had to make a last-minute change to the team sheet for the first T20I of the series against New Zealand. Ashleigh Gardner and Georgia Wareham were involved in a collision at Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay moments before the coin toss on September 19.
The two Australian players smashed their heads as they went for a catch. Gardner took a hit on her jaw and was eventually ruled out of the game as she suffered a concussion.
In Gardner’s absence, Heather Graham walked into the playing XI.
On the other hand, New Zealand missed the services of their captain Sophie Devine who is recovering from an ankle injury. In Sophie's absence, Suzie Bates showed up for the coin toss.
Gardner's replacement, Wareham did well with the ball conceding 27 runs from her quota of four overs and taking the wicket of Brooke Halliday.
Playing XIs:
Australia XI: Alyssa Healy (c, wk), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Heather Graham, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck
New Zealand XI: Suzie Bates (c), Georgia Plimmer, Melie Kerr, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Gaze (wk), Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Molly Penfold, Fran Jonas
Australian players injured before T20 World Cup 2024
Gardner is the latest to enter the list of injured Australian players. Grace Harris and Kim Garth have been ruled out of the T20I series already leading up to the T20 World Cup 2024 in UAE starting next month. Garth is recovering from the left knee injury she picked up during the Hundred. Harris is recovering from a calf strain and is expected to regain fitness before Australia's title defense.
"Kim Garth is progressing well with her rehab following a knee injury sustained at the back end of the Hundred. She has resumed training. She is not available for selection for this series but is on track to be available for the World Cup,” read the statement.
"Grace Harris sustained a very low grade right calf strain earlier this week while completing her return from a significant left calf injury in the off season. She will be unavailable for the NZ series but all going well we expect she will be available for the World Cup."
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