‘DEVASTATED’ HAYNES OUT OF GAME
RACHAEL Haynes was “devastated” after the star batter was ruled out of this week’s Test against India with a hamstring issue as coach Matthew Mott revealed he’d stick with Ellyse Perry to open the bowling despite an underwhelming one-day series.
The match on the Gold Coast is set to proceed despite Mott conceding everyone was concerned amid an escalating Covid situation in south-east Queensland that forced a Sheffield Shield game in Brisbane to be abandoned.
Mott said it was “business as usual” with a Thursday afternoon start pencilled in for the day-night clash and that the team wouldn’t adjust its preparation until necessary.
Beth Mooney has been passed fit to play after leaving the field during Sunday’s one-day loss to India with hamstring soreness, and spinner Georgia Wareham is recovering well from a quad strain.
All-rounder Annabel Sutherland could be among what Mott said would be “a few” debutantes set to come from the bowling ranks in the 18-player squad.
Perry also now looms as a hugely important part of what will be a largely inexperienced pace attack and is likely to open the bowling despite failing to take a wicket in the one-day series.
Mott said the 30-year-old conceded she “hasn’t really hit the ground” running with the bowling side of her game but he was confident she would lift for her favourite format.