Beth Mooney could return for Women's Ashes Test after jaw fracture

Mooney was seen practising and jogging on the outfield at the Adelaide Oval prior to the abandonment due to rain of the third T20I as she steps up her recovery

Beth Mooney could return to action for Australia in the Women's Ashes Test, confirmed head coach Matthew Mott.

No timeframe was put on Mooney's recovery after the batter fractured her jaw while batting in the nets ahead of the series.

However, she was seen practising and jogging on the outfield at the Adelaide Oval prior to the abandonment due to rain of the third T20I.

"As well as we could have hoped for," said Mott, speaking of how the left-hander was progressing following surgery.

"She's in good nick. Sunny Kaliyar, who's one of our great judges and analysts, said she's right to go. We'll certainly look at her for the Test match.

"All the indications are looking very positive, she's been up and about. She's a warrior, she's tough. We can't wait to have her back in our group. She's going okay."

^{Mooney is recovering well after being struck on the chin during practice ahead of the series (Chris Hyde/Getty Images)}

Given the nature of the injury, caused by what Mott described as a "rogue delivery" that struck her on the right side of the chin, there were initially worries that Mooney's chances of making it to the World Cup in March might be in jeopardy.

Mooney was the leading run-scorer in the Women's Big Bash earlier this season and her absence from Australia's top order was expected to be a major blow for the hosts. Meg Lanning stepped in to fill her void, though, making an unbeaten half century as she played second fiddle to Tahlia McGrath, who led Australia to victory in the first match of the series – the only one to defy the weather so far.

In other injury news, Tayla Vlaeminck has been ruled out of the remainder of the Women's Ashes and the subsequent World Cup with a recurrence of the stress fracture in her right foot that ruled her out of the T20 World Cup in 2020.