Ellyse Perry, considered to be the greatest women’s cricket all-rounder, has been included in the squad for the Australia vs New Zealand series subject to fitness that will take place in September.
The coronavirus pandemic has completely stalled women’s cricket with no action taking place since the end of the ICC Women’s World T20 taking place in February-March in Australia. However, there is a series planned in late-September between Australia and New Zealand which will include three ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals. Australia have included Ellyse Perry in the side but it is subjective to whether she can clear some fitness tests. However, Tayla Vlaeminck, the pacer who missed the World T20 due to a stress fracture continues to be on the sidelines after a setback in her rehabilitation process.
The series, though, is under a cloud due to the second wave of coronavirus cases in both Australia and New Zealand. Australia has seen a surge in cases in Victoria while New Zealand, after going without a case for over 100 days has seen a spurt in the COVID numbers which has once again resulted in the closing of borders and Auckland being under lockdown again.
Everything uncertain
The schedule has yet to be firmly fixed because of uncertainties caused by the pandemic. "The schedule for the series has matches in both New South Wales and Queensland but, given the current COVID situation, changes may be required," Cricket Australia said in a statement.
The injury to Vlaeminck offers an opportunity to uncapped bowler Maitlan Brown and her fellow quick Belinda Vakarewa, who both missed the T20 World Cup but were named in Friday’s 18-woman squad. Twice ICC women’s cricketer of the year, Perry is recovering from surgery on a hamstring injury she sustained during the T20 World Cup, which Australia won in front of 86,174 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in early March.
"Ellyse is progressing well from a significant hamstring injury and we want to give her every chance to be available for selection," head selector Shawn Flegler said in a news release.
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