Aussies rocked by ‘terrible’ news

TAYLA Vlaeminck has been ruled out of the Ashes and the upcoming Women’s World Cup in yet another devastating injury blow to the Aussie women’s side.

The Aussie quick has sustained a stress fracture in her foot similar the one that hampered her 2020.

Vlaeminck played in the first match of the Ashes series, a resounding T20 win for Australia, but sat the second out through injury.

The Aussies spent the intervening days sweating on her fitness and on Sunday, Cricket Australia confirmed the worst.

“Tayla reported a return in midfoot pain and subsequent images have confirmed a recurrent stress fracture of the navicular,” said team doctor Philippa Inge.

“The Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria medical teams will work collaboratively on the immediate management over the coming days and a subsequent return to play plan. She will be unavailable for the Ashes series and ODI World Cup.”

Selectors are planning to make a decision on whether to call another player into the squad “in due course”.

The injury will be all the more frustrating for Vlaeminck given she missed Australia’s recent Test and ODI series against India through injury.

Star batter Rachael Haynes said the Aussies were devastated for Vlaeminck.

“It was a pretty quiet changeroom when we found out the news,” she said. “We’re so disappointed for her.”

The absence of superstar batter Beth Mooney (broken jaw) also looms as potentially disastrous for the Aussies, who would have been relying on her composure at the crease in the Ashes.

Without Wareham, Molineux and now Vlaeminck, Australia will require Megan Schutt and Jess Jonassen to carry the bowling attack through the multi-format series.