All-rounder Annabel Sutherland will miss the Australian women’s cricket team’s tour of New Zealand because of a leg injury.
Key points:
- All-rounder Annabel Sutherland is out of cricket for the rest of the domestic season after scans showed a fractured femur in her leg
- Molly Strano, the leading WNCL wicket-taker for Victoria, will replace her in Australia’s squad to tour New Zealand
- The Australian team will play three T20 internationals and three ODIs against the White Ferns
Off-spinner Molly Strano, having originally been dropped for the trans-Tasman series, has replaced Sutherland in the 17-player squad.
Sutherland, aged 19 and one of the most exciting prospects in Australian cricket, suffered the setback while playing for Victoria.
Scans revealed a stress reaction in the femur of the young gun, who was part of Australia’s triumphant T20 World Cup squad and is expected to be part of their plans for next year’s one-day World Cup.
Sutherland has been ruled out of the rest of the domestic season, as well as the upcoming trip to New Zealand.
“Our medical team were able to identify the issue early, which allows her to go away and get herself right with a busy period coming up,” selector Shawn Flegler said.
AP: Rick Rycroft
)“Molly comes into the squad off the back of strong performances for Victoria in the WNCL, where she’s the current leading wicket-taker.
“We’ve got plenty of pace-bowling options in the squad, so Molly gives us another spin option should we need it.”
Meg Lanning’s team will depart on March 13, serve a fortnight in quarantine then start their series against New Zealand with a T20 game in Hamilton on March 28.
The Australians will face the White Ferns in three T20 internationals before meeting the hosts in three ODIs for the Rose Bowl trophy, concluding on April 10.
AAP/ABC
