Concerns over Vlaeminck as rain washes out second Ashes T20I

By Charlie On Jan 22, 2022

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Rain allows only 4.1 overs in the second Ashes T20I in Adelaide, and the forecast for the third T20I on Sunday isn’t great either

England 24 for 0 vs Australia – Match abandoned

The points were shared in the second T20I at Adelaide Oval as rain swept through on a day where Australia were given cause for concern over the fitness of quick bowler Tayla Vlaeminck.

Vlaeminck was replaced in the XI by Darcie Brown because of a right foot injury – it’s the same foot in which she had suffered the stress fracture that ruled her out of 2020 T20 World Cup. She will be assessed over the coming days, but given her history, there may be concern over her participation not only in the ongoing Ashes series but also the upcoming ODI World Cup in New Zealand.

Vlaeminck bowled quickly in the opening match of the series and struck Tammy Beaumont on the side of helmet with a bouncer. Australia have been very careful about managing her workload throughout her career with her pace often being referred to as a point of difference. Since making her debut in 2018 she has so far been limited to 24 international appearances across the three formats.

“[It] was out of the first game. We are still looking into it and how it is and what’s going on,” captain Meg Lanning said. “We’ll know a little bit more over the next few days. Obviously not ideal, but we’ll see where we end up. She puts on a pretty brave face. I’ve just had a quick chat with her today and she seems okay.”

In a more positive injury-related development, Beth Mooney has already returned to training after surgery for the fractured jaw she suffered two days before the series began.

“She’s going really well,” Lanning, who has opened in Mooney’s absence, said. “Has had a couple of hits which is really exciting for her. She’s taken the whole situation really well. It’s nice to see her back. There’s no rushing her return, it’s whenever she feels comfortable and ready. Hopefully it’s sooner rather than later but we’ll see how it pans out.”

There was precious little action in the middle with England able to face 4.1 overs either side of heavy rain and the forecast is not promising for the third game on Sunday.

Danni Wyatt went along at better than a-run-a-ball but Beaumont struggled to get going as she made 6 off 14 balls before the rain returned. Australia had used one-over spells during the powerplay, opening the attack with Ashleigh Gardner’s offspin, while Brown went for just three in her single over.

England had handed a T20I debut to offspinner Charlie Dean, who impressed in her first ODI series last year against New Zealand. She replaced Maia Bouchier as England altered the balance of the side to play an extra bowler. That was after England went down by nine wickets in the first T20I of the all-format series. Bouchier injured her knee in the opening match when she slid near the boundary but was deemed available for selection.

Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo

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