Why Did Phoebe Litchfield Not Play in the Third ODI Against Bangladesh?

Australia will be without Phoebe Litchfield for the third one-day international against Bangladesh after the opener suffered a hip injury. The 23-year-old left-hander has been ruled out of the 3rd Bangladesh ODI at Allan Border Field. Nicola Carey has been brought into the playing XI for her first appearance of the series. Beth Mooney will move up the batting order to open in Litchfield’s place. Australia are aiming to complete a series sweep after winning the first two matches.

Litchfield sustained a low-grade hip muscle strain during her innings of 71 in Sunday’s second ODI. The injury means she will miss the final match against Bangladesh, despite having batted in that game. Her absence leaves Australia needing a change at the top of the order for the series finale. Mooney, who is playing her 100th one-day international, will take on the opening role instead. The milestone match will also see her take on another batting position.

The injury may affect Litchfield’s participation in Australia’s next assignment, a three-match T20I series against New Zealand. The opening T20I is scheduled for Sunday, October 18, leaving a short turnaround after the Bangladesh ODI. Litchfield is under an injury cloud for that series, and her availability for the three games is uncertain. Australia are due to play the second T20I on October 20 and the third on October 22. Her recovery matters as the team moves from the one-day series into the T20I schedule.

Australia are bowling first in the final ODI after stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath won the toss at Allan Border Field. With Litchfield unavailable, Mooney has been moved up to open the batting, while Carey has been added to the XI. Carey’s inclusion is her first match of the series against Bangladesh. The change follows a limited squad for the ODI series, with Australia having only 12 players available after injuries to Sophie Molineux and Lucy Hamilton. Molineux has a hip injury, while Hamilton has a quad injury.

The injury to Litchfield comes as Australia prepare to finish their ODI series against Bangladesh. Australia won the first ODI by seven wickets and followed it with a nine-wicket victory in the second. Those results have put the side in a position to seek a clean sweep in the third match. However, Litchfield will not be available for the decider, and Carey comes into the team in her place. The match is being played on Wednesday, October 14, at Allan Border Field in Brisbane.

Australia’s focus is the final ODI, but Litchfield’s injury also raises uncertainty ahead of the New Zealand T20Is. The series begins on Sunday, October 18, with further matches on October 20 and October 22. The gap between the ODI and the first T20I means her recovery will need to be assessed closely before the next series. For now, she has been ruled out of the Bangladesh decider, and Mooney will open in her place. Australia will aim to complete the sweep while managing the change to its batting line-up.

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Source: femalecricket.com