Australia receives a big blow as Georgia Wareham gets ruled out of action for a lengthy period

Australia received a massive setback as it has been confirmed that leg-spinner Georgia Wareham will be ruled out of the upcoming Ashes, ICC Women’s ODI World Cup in 2022, and the subsequent Commonwealth Games due to a serious knee injury. The Melbourne Renegades vice-captain Wareham ruptured her ACL in the ongoing Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). The leg-spinner was initially ruled out of the WBBL seven but further scans revealed sealed her fate of almost not playing for the next whole year.

The injury needs time to recover before Wareham can have a full reconstructive surgery early next year in 2022. Australia have a packed cricketing calendar that begins with the multi-format Ashes in January and February before they set off to New Zealand for the 50-over World Cup. After a small break, the team will next participate in the historic 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the first time women’s sport will be part of the spectacle. The untimely blow to Wareham has come at a critical juncture, just when her career was about to shoot up.

The leg-spinner has been a vital member in the spin department for skipper Meg Lanning ever since making her debut in 2018. She has formed a potent combination with Jess Jonassen, Sophie Molineux, Molly Strano, and Ashleigh Gardner. Wareham is the only bowler who offers leg-spin. With the 22-year-old ruled out for a long stint, the Cricket Australia (CA) selectors will have to look out at other candidates.

Former Australia leg-spinner Kristen Beams feels the selectors can look out for leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington and Perth Scorcher’s Alana King as the options for the upcoming series.

“It’ll be interesting whether they want to do a straight swap from an Australian point of view,” Beams told The Scoop last week.

I think we will see a leg-spinner added to the Australia squad: Kristen Beams

“I think we’ll see a leg-spinner added (to the squad), but they’ve also got some options within that Australian set-up. The two left-arm orthodox (spinners), will we see Jonassen and Molineux play in the same team? Can they bowl differently? Then you’ve got Ash Gardner and you’ve also got Molly Strano who’s been in and around (the squad).”

Beams further opined that Australia should now have to plan out strategies without Wareham and see for other attacking leg-spin options. “The reality is it is a dent to that Australian team because Georgia Wareham is so important to them so they’re going to have to re-work and have a different plan for how they attack the next 12 months without her.”