Phoebe Litchfield, Grace Harris ruled out of Women's T20 World Cup? Australia face massive injury scare

Australia Women's National Cricket Team have faced a massive injury scare ahead of the start of the T20 World Cup 2024. Two premier players, Phoebe Litchfield and Grace Harris, are under the scanner, and clouds are looming over their availability for the tournament.

Both Phoebe Litchfield and Grace Harris have been ruled out of the warmup games for the Australia Women's National Cricket Team in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. With them being deemed unfit for the practice games, massive questions remain over their availability for the tournament.

Phoebe Litchfield recently complained of groin soreness and was deemed unfit. Her availability for the first game of the Women's T20 World Cup 2024, will be decided in due course of time. Her injury was confirmed ahead of Australia's first warm-up fixture against England in Dubai on September 29.

On the other hand, Grace Harris also was ruled out of the warmup games. She has not played competitive cricket since April 2024 because of calf strains in both legs. But recently she faced a new niggle and hasn't been declared fit even though she has resumed training.

Cricket Australia also released an official statement about Grace Harris' fitness. The governing body mentioned that she has returned to training after the new injury. The statement read: "Grace has resumed training following a new niggle sustained in her preparation to return to play."

Harris faced injury ahead of the Women's Hundred and, after that, faced another strain, which saw her missing the T20I series against the New Zealand Women's National Cricket Team. Cricket Australia also mentioned that they will provide fitness updates for both players over the next few days.

Injury to Phoebe Litchfield will be a massive blow for the Australia Women's National Cricket Team

The injury to Phoebe Litchfield will be a massive blow for the Australia Women's National Cricket Team. She was in decent form in the last series against New Zealand, as she scored a match-winning 64. She also slammed the joint-fastest fifty in Women's cricket in just 18 balls.

The absence of Grace Harris will also leave a massive void in the Australia lineup. She is touted as one of the cleanest strikers of the ball in the Women’s Cricket. She has scored 474 runs from 29 innings at a strike rate of 164.01.

Australia Women will be playing the second warmup game on October 1 against West Indies, before opening their tournament against Sri Lanka on October 5. They are placed alongside India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand in Group A.

Australia are the most successful team in the T20 World Cup and have also won the title three times in a row in 2018, 2020, and 2023. They would be hoping to achieve the same this time around and win another title. They would be hoping that both Phoebe Litchfield and Grace Harris get fit in time as their presence will make the team strong favourites for the tournament.