Australia’s Women’s T20 World Cup title defense has been met with a potential setback as batter Phoebe Litchfield has been ruled out of the warm-up matches due to groin soreness. The news emerged ahead of Australia’s first warm-up against England in Dubai on September 29.
Adding to the injury concerns, Grace Harris, who has been sidelined since April 2024 due to calf strains in both legs, is also not yet ready to return to the field due to a “new niggle.” However, she has resumed training.
Cricket Australia (CA) stated that an update on the availability of both players for the World Cup proper will be provided in the coming days. Australia will play a second warm-up match against West Indies on October 1 before opening their tournament against Sri Lanka on October 5.
India, Pakistan, and New Zealand are the other teams in Australia’s Group A. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on October 17 and 18, with the final scheduled for October 20.
Litchfield’s absence from the warm-up games is a blow to Australia’s preparations, as she has been a key member of the team in recent years. She was part of the squad that won the 2020 T20 World Cup and has scored over 1,000 runs in T20Is.
Harris’s return to fitness would be a significant boost for Australia, as she is a powerful hitter and a reliable fielder. Her experience and leadership would also be invaluable to the team.
Australia will be hoping that both Litchfield and Harris can recover in time for the World Cup, as they aim to defend their title and claim their sixth T20 World Cup crown.
