Australia have suffered a big injury blow ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup semi-final, with Ellyse Perry set to miss the match against West Indies.
Perry, 31, has been under a fitness cloud due to ongoing back spasms, and was subsequently ruled out when captain Meg Lanning spoke to reporters today.
Unfortunately she just ran out of time to prove her fitness,” Lanning said.
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It marks the second tournament in a row that Perry has been cruelled by injury in the latter stages, after she was absent for the final games of Australia’s T20 World Cup run in 2020.
She was eventually sidelined for several months with a torn hamstring, missing both the semi against South Africa and the final against India, which the Aussies won easily.
Thankfully, this time around her injury isn’t as serious, with Lanning refusing to rule the all-rounder out for the final, should Australia advance.
“She batted a little bit in the nets yesterday and felt OK, but she just wasn’t in a position unfortunately to be able to perform at the level needed,” Lanning said.
“We will go in without her tomorrow and we’ll keep assessing her if we are to progress in the tournament.
“So, 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.”
Perry had featured in each of Australia’s first six group stage matches, but last played a week ago, bowling just three overs before the back spasms forced her from the field against South Africa.
She missed the final group stage game against Bangladesh, which Australia won by five wickets, with 65 balls to spare.
The entire tournament so far has been utterly dominant from the undefeated Aussies, with only England and India keeping the contest close.
But it will all count for nothing if they can’t find two more wins.
“We’re just really focused on tomorrow and the players that are going to be able to go out there and perform,” Lanning said.
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