Tayla Vlaeminck out of Women's Ashes and World Cup with stress fracture

The Australian fast bowler missed the T20 World Cup two years ago with the same injury

Tayla Vlaeminck has been ruled out of the remainder of the Women's Ashes series and the subsequent 50-over World Cup after suffering another stress fracture in her right foot.

The Australian fast bowler missed the T20 World Cup two years ago with the same injury.

There had been concern over her fitness after the first match of the series, in which she bowled quickly and hit Tammy Beaumont on the helmet with a sharp bouncer. Subsequently, she missed out on selection for the second – ultimately abandoned – game after reporting soreness.

It was hoped that she was beyond her injury issues after coming through 14 Women's Big Bash appearances unscathed for Hobart Hurricanes earlier this season, and Australia have been careful to protect her from further injury problems.

Australia team doctor Phillipa Inge confirmed that Vlaeminck had sustained "an acute navicular stress fracture".

Inge added: "She had a similar injury in early 2020; this fracture completely healed and Tayla made a successful return to play to international cricket in March 2021.

"Tayla reported a return in midfoot pain and subsequent images have confirmed a recurrent stress fracture of the navicular.

"The Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria medical teams will work collaboratively on the immediate management over the coming days and a subsequent return to play plan."

^{Vlaeminck struck Tammy Beaumont on the helmet with a sharp bouncer in the first match of the series (Mark Brake/Getty Images)}

Vlaeminck is the latest Australian bowler to suffer a significant injury in the recent past, with spinners Georgia Wareham and Sophie Molineux both absent.

Speaking to Channel Seven before the abandonment of the third T20I due to rain, Australia head coach Matthew Mott described Vlaeminck's misfortune as "shattering for her and for the whole group".

"It was a pretty sombre dressing room last night," he said. "I spoke to the group about what it would look like for her and we all went through it before, leading into that T20 World Cup.

"She knows what it's about, she's come back before and that's what we've got to hold out hope for. We'll put our arm around her and do everything we can to build her back up.

"She's a young fast bowler and we see it in the men's game all the time, if you're going to run in and bowl as fast as you can it's a dangerous activity. So, we'll do everything we can to get her back up but it's a tough couple of days for her, definitely."