Ahead of the ODI Women`s World Cup 2025, Australia`s Grace Harris has been ruled out of the marquee tournament. In the third ODI against Team India, she sustained a calf strain while fielding.
The injury has dashed the all-rounder`s hopes of playing her first ODI World Cup match during the tournament in India and Sri Lanka. Harris was part of Australia`s 2022 World Cup-winning campaign but did not feature in a single game, as per the ICC website.
Coming to bat in the lower order, Harris is known for a power-hitting batting approach. Despite not featuring in any of the ODI matches for Australia since March 2024, she has been delivering decent outings in recent white-ball matches.
Ahead of the ODI Women`s World Cup 2025, Harris will be replaced by Heather Graham, who will join the squad after playing two opening matches for Western Australia in the National Cricket League.
Graham is a fast bowling all-rounder with six international appearances and nine wickets to her name. Like Harris, Graham has also enjoyed a strong run in the English domestic leagues. In the T20 Blast, she contributed with both bat and ball, scoring 186 runs and picking up six wickets.
The Australian women`s team will open their ODI Women`s World Cup 2025 by playing a match against the New Zealand women`s team on October 1 at Holkar Cricket Stadium is located in Indore.
The Aussies will play their fixture against the Indian women`s team on October 12 at the ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
The semi-final 1 of the ODI Women`s World Cup 2025 is scheduled to be played on October 25, and the second semi-final on October 30. The venue of the first semi-final is yet to be confirmed, but the stadium in Navi Mumbai will host the second semi-final.
The title clash of the ODI Women`s World Cup 2025 is scheduled to be played on November 2, with the venue yet to be announced.
Australia`s squad for the ODI Women`s World Cup 2025: Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.
(With ANI Inputs)