Sutherland has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in her femur
Allrounder Annabel Sutherland has been ruled out of Australia’s tour to New Zealand later this month after being diagnosed with a stress reaction in her femur.
Sutherland, who has so far played three ODIs and six T20Is, reported pain after the last round of the WNCL against Tasmania.
Molly Strano, the offspinner who was also a late addition to Australia’s T20 World Cup squad last year after Tayla Vlaeminck was ruled out, has been called up as Sutherland’s replacement for the trip which includes three ODIs and three T20s. Strano has played seven T20Is but has yet to make her ODI debut.
Sutherland had taken four wickets in four WNCL matches for Victoria alongside making scores of 13, 34 and 15.
“It’s unfortunate that Annabel has been ruled out of the series, but our medical team were able to identify the issue early which allows her to go away and get herself right with a busy period coming up,” national selector Shawn Flegler said.
“Molly comes into the squad off the back of strong performances for Victoria in the WNCL, where she’s the current leading wicket-taker. We’ve got plenty of pace-bowling options in the squad, so Molly gives us another spin option should we need it.”
Australia’s squad includes two uncapped players, the pace bowlers Darcie Brown and Hannah Darlington, as the selectors start to have on eye on the future.
The squad will depart on March 13 and undergo two weeks managed isolation in Christchurch ahead of the first T20I on March 28
Squad Meg Lanning (capt), Rachael Haynes, Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wk), Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Molly Strano, Georgia Wareham, Belinda Vakarewa, Tayla Vlaeminck