Perry’s out, so who will replace the superstar?

HER captain has described her as irreplaceable, but Australia’s star cricketer Ellyse Perry will need to be replaced when the Aussies play their T20 World Cup semi-final tomorrow night in Sydney.

Perry was helped from Melbourne’s Junction Oval in tears on Monday after going down with a hamstring injury partway through her side’s four-run win over New Zealand.

Perry is the world’s No.1 T20 allrounder, but has been battling injury all tournament, struggling first with her right shoulder which she injured in a Big Bash game in November and then she twigged her hip during Australia’s 86-run win again Bangladesh.

Perry’s game-ending injury was the only tarnish on an otherwise stellar effort against the Kiwis that saw Australia qualify for the semi-finals. From Australia’s four group games, the green and gold have three wins (over NZ, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) and one loss (to competition leader India). Perry has played in each of the group games, and has been uncharacteristically quiet: she’s batted three times for a combined total of 26 runs and has taken one wicket.

But for a dynamic, exciting, talented player like Perry, what she’s done in the past week doesn’t matter, it’s about what she’s routinely capable of in the future. She’s the X-factor that so often is the difference between Australia and its opposition.

So, as Australia plans for tomorrow’s semi-final to qualify for the World Cup final on March 8, the question simply is: who will replace Perry in this side and who will need to stand up in her absence?

Megan Schutt is the No. 1 T20 bowler in the world and she’s enjoying a good World Cup. Schutt and Perry have become a world-dominating force in the Aussie bowling line-up, either of them generally opening the bowling with the added pressure of the powerplay. With Perry gone, Schutt will need to continue her already superb World Cup form.

A stalwart in Australian colours having debuted in 2008, Delissa Kimmince is no stranger to the pressure of international cricket, having taken 37 wickets at the T20I level, from 39 matches. With quick Tayla Vlaeminck also ruled out of the tournament with a stress fracture in her foot, the Australians might be relying on Kimmince for her medium pace.

Right-handed batter Ash Gardner has scored a total of 78 runs having batted in every innings this World Cup. She will be looking to increase her output with Perry gone.

And could Sophie Molineux make a comeback? Having battled a corked thigh for the entire campaign, the spin bowler could be declared fit.