Wareham ruled out of Ashes, World Cup and Commonwealth Games

Australian legspinner Georgia Wareham has been ruled out of the upcoming World Cup, Ashes and Commonwealth Games campaigns due to the ACL injury in her left knee. The 22-year-old picked up this injury during Melbourne Renegades' WBBL encounter with Adelaide Strikers on October 20.

Wareham fell awkwardly and sustained the injury while fielding and had to be helped to get off the field. She had a synthetic (LARS) ligament reconstruction in the same knee when she was a teenager. She had her first surgery last week but won't be able to undergo the latest reconstruction until early next year.

"Due to her previous history, Georgia requires a two-stage process to reconstruct her left ACL. She had a knee arthroscopy in Adelaide last week to remove the previous graft and will now commence rehab in Melbourne while she awaits for the knee to be ready for the ACL reconstruction in early 2022," Australian team doctor Pip Inge said.

"Due to the recovery time, Georgia will be unavailable for the Ashes, World Cup and Commonwealth Games with her return to play time-frame expected to become clearer after the reconstruction."

Australia will play England in the Ashes in January and February before travelling to New Zealand for the 50-over World Cup. 

Australia already have some worst-class fingerspinners - Ashleigh Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Sophie Molineux and Molly Strano - but could bring in one of Amanda-Jade Wellington, Alana King and Maisy Gibson if they want at least one wristspinner in their squad.