Hayley Matthews replaces Suné Luus at Welsh Fire after positive Covid test

Luus had initially been signed alongside Piepa Cleary and Georgia Redmayne to fill the void left by the withdrawals of Australian trio Meg Lanning, Georgia Wareham and Beth Mooney

West Indies batter Hayley Matthews will join Welsh Fire for The Hundred as a replacement for South Arfica’s Suné Luus, who has been ruled out after returning a positive Covid-19 test.

Matthews, who made her international debut as a 16-year-old, was a regular face in the Kia Super League, turning out for Southern Vipers, Lancashire Thunder and Loughborough Lightning.

Luus had initially been signed alongside Piepa Cleary and Georgia Redmayne to fill the void left by the withdrawals of Australian trio Meg Lanning, Georgia Wareham and Beth Mooney.

Matthews said: “I’m thrilled to be taking part in The Hundred this summer. It’ll be a lot of fun to play in Cardiff alongside the like of Sarah Taylor in front of big crowds. The Hundred can help move women’s cricket forward and it’ll be great to take part.”

Following the announcement last week that star allrounder Ellyse Perry would no longer be joining up with Birmingham Phoenix for personal reasons, Women’s Big Bash stalwart Katie Mack – most recently of Adelaide Strikers – has been enlisted to join a side that will now be captained by England wicketkeeper Amy Jones.

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London Spirit, meanwhile, have moved to replace Hannah Jones with Alice Monaghan.

Beth Barrett-Wild, head of The Hundred Women’s Competition, added: “I’m gutted for Suné Luus, I know how excited she was about playing for Welsh Fire in The Hundred this summer, but we all wish her a very speedy recovery.

“In Hayley Matthews we have a big-stage player, in brilliant form, coming in, and I’m sure she will be looking forward to the opportunity to show off her skills.”