Australia’s cricket World Cup defence rocked by twin injuries

Australia’s Twenty20 World Cup defence has been rocked by potentially tournament-ending injuries to inspirational captain Alyssa Healy and pace ace Tayla Vlaeminck.

Teammates are rallying around the injured duo, whose campaign may have ended within hours of each other as the six-time world champions’ thrashed Pakistan to all but book a berth in the semi-finals.

Healy suffered what Cricket Australia described as an “acute foot injury” while running between the wickets in her whirlwind knock of 37. As the team’s captain, wicketkeeper and destructive opening batter, Healy is close to irreplaceable given the significant roles she plays in the side.

CA said more would be known on Healy’s availability for the rest of the tournament after she underwent scans in the UAE on Saturday.

Vlaeminck’s dislocated right shoulder, suffered in a fielding mishap on the boundary, is just as deflating from the perspective of team morale. The popular quick, who has battled a long run of serious injuries, had yet to bowl a ball in her first World Cup game since 2018.

While CA said her shoulder has since been “relocated”, and more would be known on her recovery period after assessment in the coming days, her tournament is all but over.

“Quite a bit’s happened tonight so it’s staying together as a group and staying really close,” said player-of-the-match Ash Gardner, as the team were left working on how they’ll rejig for Sunday’s marquee final group match with India.

“Obviously, a couple of our mates have been injured, and we certainly want to take them into consideration with how we progress into the next game.

Australia’s Tayla Vlaeminck is tended to by team medicos after her injury.Credit: AP

“There’s certainly going to have to be changes, that’s pretty obvious, but I think as a whole unit it’s making sure that we stick together.

“They’re our mates at the end of the day, so making sure their well-being is put first, and then we have to switch pretty quickly into that India game, it’s certainly going to be a challenge.”

Asked if she felt Australia would lift a fourth straight Twenty20 crown in the same stadium a week on Sunday, Gardner was adamant: “Definitely. I think it’s just believing in each other, believing in yourself, and just backing our strengths.

Australian skipper Alyssa Healy leaves the field after retiring hurt during her innings.Credit: AP

“We’ve just got each other’s backs and we celebrate each other’s success which, ultimately, in a team sport, is a massive help.”

Vlaeminck’s latest injury, after previously having her potentially brilliant career interrupted by knee, foot and shoulder injuries, left her teammates particularly saddened as they all knew how hard the 25-year-old had worked to get back to full fitness.

“It’s obviously horrible seeing one of your mates go down and knowing Tay’s road to get back to here. She’s someone that probably works harder than anyone else I know,” said Gardner.

“So we all really felt for her. There were people that were obviously emotional and I think that just shows the care that we have for our teammates and especially Tay.

“Unlucky things happen and then you just kind of got to get on with it and wait until after the game just to make sure that Tay was OK – and she’s in good spirits which is nice to see.”

With Australia’s remarkable bowling strength, though, a sidelined Vlaeminck would not be as calamitous as losing world-beating wicketkeeper-opener Healy, who hammered a quickfire 37 in pursuit of Pakistan’s paltry 82 before retiring hurt, who was brilliant with the gloves and who led with her usual smiling swagger.

Beth Mooney could take over as keeper if needed while vice captain McGrath already sounded as if she was expecting to take the reins on Sunday.

“The thing about this Australian side is how much depth we’ve got. Captaincy, wicketkeeping-batting, we’ve got so much depth ... yep, time to use it,” she said.

With AAP

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