Australia stay cautious with injured stars despite perfect start

Unbeaten Australia are refusing to rush Ash Gardner and Phoebe Litchfield back into action at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, with captain Sophie Molineux stressing the importance of patience despite her team’s strong start. Both players missed the dominant nine‑wicket win over Bangladesh in Leeds, and while Litchfield has already been ruled out of the next two fixtures due to a quad injury, Gardner could return against the Netherlands in Southampton. Molineux described Gardner’s ankle issue as a minor strain and said her progress will be assessed upon arrival.

With the pair unavailable, Australia recalled Grace Harris and Megan Schutt, though Ellyse Perry stole the spotlight with an outstanding all‑round display that earned Player of the Match honours. Molineux highlighted the squad’s depth, noting that all 15 players are trusted to contribute whenever required. She praised the team’s adaptability, emphasising that Australia’s strength lies in its ability to replace absences seamlessly.