Australia's cricket captain, Alyssa Healy, has been ruled out of the first T20 match of the Women's Ashes series due to a foot injury. The match will take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground, commencing at 08:15 GMT on Monday. Healy, who top-scored with 70 runs in the opening one-day international at the North Sydney Oval, is experiencing soreness on the same side as her previous plantar fascia injury sustained during the Women's T20 World Cup last autumn. In her absence, Beth Mooney is set to assume wicketkeeping duties, while all-rounder Tahlia McGrath is expected to lead the team as captain.
The Women's Ashes is a multi-format series worth a total of 12 points. The T20 matches hold significant value, with each match contributing two points to the overall tally. Australia has already secured a commanding 6-0 lead in the series, having completed a 3-0 clean sweep in the ODI series. With one more victory, Australia will retain the Ashes, putting immense pressure on England to win every remaining match to capture the trophy for the first time in over a decade.
The first T20 clash will be closely watched as Australia seeks to maintain its dominance. Grace Harris and 21-year-old Georgia Voll are considered likely contenders to fill the opening spot vacated by Healy. Following the initial encounter, the second T20 will occur in Canberra on 23 January, with the final T20 scheduled for Adelaide just two days later.
The series will culminate in a four-day Test match at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground starting on 30 January. This Test match carries substantial weight, offering four points toward the series total. The stakes are high for both teams, with England striving to overturn their current deficit and Australia aiming to solidify their supremacy.
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