MELBOURNE: Austra­lia’s star all-rounder Ellyse Perry is recovering from a stress fracture in her lower back and may be restricted to batting at the Common­wealth Games.

Perry has suffered back problems since the Women’s World Cup where she missed the last few matches of Australia’s run to a seventh title in early-April.

She was included in a 15-woman squad named on Friday for a T20 tri-series against Pakistan and hosts Ireland in the leadup to the July 28-Aug 8 Common­wealth Games in Birmin­gham — but may not be ready to bowl in either tournament.

“Ellyse is ... expected to play as a batter,” team physiotherapist Kate Beerworth said in a news release.

“Her availability to bowl will be dependent on her progress in the coming weeks and on the medical advice.”

With long-serving coach Matthew Mott having taken a role with the England men’s white-ball programme, Mott’s former assistant Shelley Nitschke will guide Australia as interim head coach.

Australia will be without spin bowler Geo­­rgia Ware­ham and fast bowler Tayla Vlae­minck, both nursing long-term injuries, but Meg Lanning’s side are likely to be heavy favourites to win the first women’s T20 tournament at the Commonwealth Games. Australia are the reigning T20 world champions, having won the last global women’s event on home soil in 2020.

Australia squad for Ireland tri-series and Commonwealth Games: Meg Lanning (captain), Rachael Haynes, Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington.

Published in Dawn,May 21st, 2022