Injured Australia captain Healy out of first Ashes T20

A foot injury prevented Australia captain Alyssa Healy from playing in the first T20 of the Women’s Ashes.

The match against England takes place at the Sydney Cricket Ground, starting at 08: 15 GMT on Monday.

Cricket Australia said the 34-year-old had soreness “on the same side as her previous plantar fascia injury” that she picked up during the Women’s T20 World Cup last autumn.

In the following series, she only appeared as a batter for Australia against India.

Before confirming her availability for the remainder of the series, Cricket Australia added that she would need to undergo an evaluation by medical staff.

In place of Healy, who top scored with a score of 70 in the first one-day international at the North Sydney Oval, Tahlia McGrath is likely to take the captaincy.

Grace Harris or Georgia Voll, both of whom are thought to be the best candidates for the opening spot, will keep the wicket while Beth Mooney will keep the wicket.

England must win every other game to win the trophy for the first time in more than a decade after Australia completed a 3-0 clean sweep in the ODI series to take a 6-0 lead in the multi-format Ashes.

With one more victory, Australia would stay in the Ashes, with only England remaining in charge of the series draw.

The second T20 match will take place on January 23 in Canberra, followed by the third one to take place in Adelaide.