March 9 (Reuters) – Australia opener Beth Mooney will miss the remainder of the Women’s Premier League due to a calf injury that will require up to six weeks to heal, her team Gujarat Giants said on Thursday.
Mooney, the captain of Gujarat, suffered the injury in the opening match of the Twenty20 tournament in India last weekend and retired hurt.
The 29-year-old missed the next two matches and will now travel home for rehabilitation, with South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt replacing her in the Gujarat squad.
Wolvaardt, who was in Pakistan to take part in the Women’s League exhibition matches, has been released by her team Super Women.
“I was really looking forward to the maiden WPL season … but unfortunately injuries are part and parcel of the sport, and I am gutted to be missing the remainder of the season,” Mooney said in a statement released by the team.
“I will be keeping a close eye on the team’s performance from afar and will be rooting for them every single day,” she said about Gujarat, who are fourth in the five-team league after one win and two losses.
“Though I will be away from the field of play for the rest of the season, I am looking forward to coming back stronger, fitter and I will definitely be hungrier next season.”
Mooney top-scored for champions Australia in the final of the T20 World Cup against South Africa last month.
She was one of three Australians who were named captains of their WPL teams alongside Alyssa Healy at UP Warriorz and Meg Lanning at Delhi Capitals.
In the absence of Mooney, India’s Sneh Rana will be the Gujarat captain with Australia all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner as her deputy.
