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Women’s T20 World Cup – Australia bring in Heather Graham in place of the injured Tayla Vlaeminck


Australia quick Tayla Vlaeminck will miss the remainder of the women’s T20 World Cup after she was injured during their previous group-stage game, against Pakistan on Friday. She has been replaced in the squad by Heather Graham.

Vlaeminck dislocated her right – bowling – shoulder while trying to stop a boundary on the fourth ball of the match in Dubai. Running back from short third to cut off a shot from Muneeba Ali, Vlaeminck slid but her knee got stuck in the turf as she reached for the ball and flicked it back before tumbling over the rope, crying out and clutching at her shoulder as she did so.

She had come into the side for the big-hitting Grace Harris, adding pace in what Healy described as an “impact for impact” swap in Australia’s first match of the tournament at the ground, having opened their campaign with wins against Sri Lanka and New Zealand on a slower pitch in Sharjah.

It was Vlaeminck’s first World Cup match since 2018 and the second in a career punctuated by serious injuries – including two ACL injuries, a twice-dislocated left shoulder, and stress fractures to her foot.

Healy and Vlaeminck both underwent scans on their respective injuries on Saturday.

Graham, a right-arm seam bowler, has played five T20Is and one ODI with career-best figures of 4 for 8 in the shortest format during Australia’s tour of India in 2022. She will be available for selection in Australia’s final group game against India on Sunday evening.

Valkerie Baynes is a general editor, women’s cricket, at ESPNcricinfo

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