Georgia Wareham suffers ACL injury ahead of busy period for Australia

Wareham has been a focal point in Australia’s squads since making her debut in 2018 as the side’s wrist-spinner of choice

Australia leg-spinner Georgia Wareham has been ruled out of the remainder of the Women’s Big Bash after suffering a tear to her anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.

Wareham, who suffered the injury while playing for Melbourne Renegades in an eight-wicket defeat against Adelaide Strikers, had to be helped from the field after falling to the ground in pain.

The injury is a huge blow to the 22-year-old ahead of a bumper period for the national side; Australia face England in the Ashes at the start of 2022, before heading to the World Cup in New Zealand and travelling to Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games during the next English summer.

Wareham’s injury – and the subsequent rehabilitation period – could make her a major doubt for all three events.

Eight years ago, at the age of 14, she had a synthetic ligament reconstruction in the same knee after rupturing her ACL while playing Aussie Rules football.

^{Wareham has become a key player for Australia since debuting in 2018}

“Whilst in the field yesterday she had an instability episode of the left knee resulting in a rupture of the graft,” Australian team doctor Pip Inge explained.

“As a result, she will be unavailable for the remainder of the WBBL season. Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria medical staff are working in consultation with Georgia on the longer-term management plan.”

Wareham has been a focal point in Australia’s squads since making her debut in 2018 as the side’s wrist-spinner of choice. This is the latest injury misfortune to strike her young career, however; she missed the majority of last year’s Women’s Big Bash with a stress reaction in her lower leg.

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