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Massive Setback For NZ; Opener Ruled Out Of Major Series Due To Back Injury

Rajgeeta Yadav

Lauren Down ruled out of the out of Sri Lanka ODIs [Source: @thesportsfeedco/x]Lauren Down ruled out of the out of Sri Lanka ODIs [Source: @thesportsfeedco/x]

New Zealand has suffered a big setback as star batter Lauren Down has been ruled out of the remaining two ODIs against Sri Lanka due to a back injury. The team has named 20-year-old uncapped player Izzy Sharp as her replacement.

Lauren Down Injured In First ODI

Down sustained a back injury on the first morning of the opening match in Napier. Unfortunately, she hasn’t recovered in time to play the rest of the series. The 29-year-old middle-order batter was already a replacement for Bella James, who was ruled out earlier due to a quadricep strain in her right leg. As a result, Sharp, who was initially part of only the T20I squad, will now travel to Nelson for the remaining two ODIs.

Lauren Down made her ODI debut against the West Indies in 2018. She has played 35 ODIs, scoring 486 runs, with her highest score being 90.

Izzy Sharp and Emma Black Join The Squad

Izzy Sharp was originally selected for the T20I series, but she will now join the ODI squad in Nelson on Thursday. Additionally, Emma Black will join the team on Saturday as a replacement for Hannah Rowe.

Interestingly, Rowe won’t be playing the third ODI—not due to injury, but because she will be attending the wedding of her Central Hinds teammate Mikaela Greig, where she is the ‘Maid of Honour.’

Before the series began, New Zealand had already lost several key players due to injuries, including Sophie Devine, Molly Penfold, and Hayley Jensen.

New Zealand Women's ODI squad

Suzie Bates (C), Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Emma McLeod, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Izzy Sharp, Emma Black (game 3 only)