Ice cream-fuelled Beth Mooney fit for Ashes Test after surgery on broken jaw

Mooney sustained the injury after receiving a blow in the nets, and had been a doubt for the four-day clash with England, which begins on Thursday

Beth Mooney will be available for Australia in the Women's Ashes Test, with a liquid diet helping the batter battle through a broken jaw.

Mooney sustained the injury after receiving a blow in the nets, and had been a doubt for the four-day clash with England, which begins on Thursday.

However, the 28-year-old has been given the all-clear to take part less than a week after undergoing surgery.

Captain Meg Lanning told reporters: "Beth Mooney so far has passed everything that she's needed to, she'll be available.

^{Beth Mooney is fit to feature in the Women's Ashes Test (Mark Evans/Getty Images)}

"It's pretty incredible. Right from the moment she got hit, she was pretty positive about the whole situation. To be coming back and playing international cricket around a week after having jaw surgery is pretty inspirational for the group. She looks really good in the nets."

Mooney has been keeping up her strength through liquids since her operation.

"She said she's able to eat unlimited amounts of ice-cream," Lanning said.

"She's pretty happy with that. It's soups and milkshakes and thickshakes. They've been coming up with ideas to give her variety."

Head coach Matthew Mott delivered the offending ball which struck Mooney in the nets, using a dog-thrower style device called a 'wanger'.

^{Mooney has had surgery on a broken jaw (Mark Evans/Getty Images)}

He admitted he was concerned that the batter would be ruled out of the World Cup, which is scheduled for March and April in New Zealand, as a result.

"You probably throw hundreds of those over the years that haven’t had the same impact. It shook everyone up a bit," he said.

"I find the whole thing amazing. As soon as I found out she was having surgery, I feared the worst. I was thinking World Cup over."

Australia can retain the Ashes with a win at the Manuka Oval. They lead the multi-format series 4-2 after two T20Is were washed out.

The Test is worth four points and would give the hosts an unassailable lead, with just the ODIs to come.