Ellyse Perry was on Tuesday ruled out of Australia’s ICC Women's World Cup 2022 semifinal against West Indies, after the star all-rounder failed to recover from back spasms. The 31-year-old Perry had suffered back spasms and was forced from the field during their win against South Africa on March 22. (More Cricket News)
Six times champions Australia, who are unbeaten in the tournament, take on the West Indies in the first semifinal on Wednesday. This is a huge blow to the Meg Lanning-led side as someone like Perry balances the side with her all-round skills.
“Elyse Perry won't play tomorrow, she's been ruled out of the semi-final, unfortunately she just ran out of time to prove her fitness so we'll go in without her tomorrow,” Lanning said at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
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“We'll keep assessing her if we are to progress in the tournament. It's unfortunate for her and the team, obviously a big blow, but we feel like we’ve got some good depth to be able to cover it and we’re going to have to do that tomorrow,” Lanning added.
However, the Australian camp remains hopeful that Perry can recover in time for Sunday's summit clash in Christchurch, should they advance. “I'm sure there's work going on in the background to get her up to play if we were to get through,” Lanning said.
Perry seemed to have hurt herself while tumbling over a boundary rope in a fielding attempt against South Africa last week. She didn't bat in the game and also missed Australia's final league stage match against Bangladesh.
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This is the second consecutive World Cup semifinal game Perry will miss. She had been forced to miss Australia's T20 World Cup semifinal and final triumphs on home soil in 2020 due to a hamstring injury.
West Indies Hit By COVID Too
Veteran West Indies spinner Afy Fletcher has also been ruled out of the World Cup semifinal after testing positive for COVID-19.
Mandy Mangru, who is in New Zealand as a travelling reserve, has been drafted into the squad as Fletcher's replacement and is in contention to play her first game of the tournament on Wednesday.
Fletcher has picked up four wickets from three matches at the showpiece, with her best haul coming against Bangladesh when she collected 3/29 from 10 overs in Mount Maunganui.
Mangru has played just one ODI for the West Indies and that came in the lead-up to the World Cup when she earned a debut against South Africa in Johannesburg last month.
