Australia all-rounder Grace Harris has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, as the defending champions’ hope to retain the title took a massive hit. Harris, who made her first one-day international appearance since March 2024 in Australia’s 43-run win over India in the 3rd ODI in Delhi on Sunday, suffered a calf strain during the second innings.
Heather Graham will replace Harris in the squad, as the Queensland all-rounder is set to return home to rehabilitate ahead of the Women’s Big Bash League 2025 (WBBL), which starts in November.
The 50-over World Cup will be played in India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2, with the final reserved to be held at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
In the lead-up to the World Cup, Australia played a three-match ODI series against India in India, which they won 2-1 after winning the first and last ODIs in Punjab and Delhi, respectively.
Earlier, Cricket Australia (CA) had named a 15-player Australian squad led by Alyssa Healy. Tahlia McGrath was named Healy’s deputy. Spin-bowling all-rounder Sophie Molineux is also set to make her international return after being included in the squad. Molineux has not played since undergoing knee surgery in January; however, she is unlikely to feature in the three-match ODI series against India that precedes the ICC tournament.
Darcie Brown (quad) and Georgia Wareham (groin) have brushed off recent niggles to take their places in the squad. With spin expected to play a significant role in the tournament, Australia will head over with four frontline spinners to choose from: Molineux, Wareham, a second leg-spinner in Alana King, and off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner.
The frontline pace options of Kim Garth, Megan Schutt – who last month revealed this will be her final ODI World Cup – and Brown will be backed up by all-rounders Annabel Sutherland, Tahlia McGrath, and Ellyse Perry.
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Australia’s bid for an unprecedented eighth World Cup title will begin against New Zealand in Indore on October 1.
Squad
Australia Women’s updated squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.