Ellyse Perry has been selected for Australia’s squad which will participate in the Commonwealth games but her role will be limited to batting.
The star all-rounder is yet to fully recover from a stress fracture in her lower back.
Perry has suffered from back problems since the Women’s World Cup and missed games towards the end as Australia sealed their seventh title with ease in early April.
She has been included in a 15-woman squad named on Friday for a T20 tri-series against Pakistan and hosts Ireland in the leadup to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham but it is unlikely that she will 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.”
Australia has had to make a coaching change as well.
With long-serving coach Matthew Mott now with the England men’s white-ball program, Mott’s former assistant Shelley Nitschke will guide Australia as interim head coach.
Australia will be without the services of spin bowler Georgia Wareham and fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck who are both nursing long-term injuries.
Despite all that Meg Lanning’s side will still be heavy favorites 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 tournament on home soil in 2020.
Australia squad for Ireland tri-series and Commonwealth Games:
Meg Lanning (capt), 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
The Commonwealth Games will take place from July 28th to August 8th.
