Grace Harris, the experienced all-rounder for Australia, has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup due to a calf strain sustained during Saturday’s third one-day international against India. The injury comes during an extraordinary match where Australia claimed an emphatic victory by 43 runs, creating new records along the way. This same injury has led to perhaps the most shocking change to England’s squad ahead of the World Cup.
The 32-year-old Harris has long been one of Australia’s most essential stars, with her explosive batting and all-around game. She demonstrated that skill on the biggest stage in the recent 2025 Women’s Hundred, ending with a strike rate of 174. Harris completely overwhelmed qualms about competition, laying waste to opposing bowlers with a 168.6 batting strike-rate—the highest in the tournament. She clobbered the most sixes, topping the field with jaw-dropping muscle. This performance has pointedly highlighted just how important she is to the Australian team.
The World Cup begins on September 30th! Australia will begin its World Cup title defense against New Zealand on Oct. 1. Harris’s absence will be felt deeply, as her experience and dynamic play were considered crucial for Australia’s ambitions in the tournament. Replacing her, Proteas teammate and fellow all-rounder Heather Graham will join the squad, switching from South Australia to add her own unique talents to the mix.
Graham’s inclusion comes at a pivotal time, as Australia aims to maintain its dominance in women’s cricket. The team is going to have to adapt fast to this major change, especially in light of Harris’s recent play and production. Her leadership and poised play during the knockout stage and beyond have crowned her as the third-most influential player. That now leaves the challenge of making sure her absence doesn’t prevent Australia from capturing a second World Cup crown.
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