Melbourne Renegades face a setback as Hayley Matthews, their star all-rounder, is ruled out for the upcoming Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season because of shoulder surgery. Matthews, a key figure in the Renegades’ title-winning campaign last year, was signed for two more seasons but will be unavailable, just before the crucial draft.
The injury occurred during Matthews’ recent series against England, forcing her to miss the last two ODIs. Despite this setback, she continued to play in domestic series against South Africa and is expected to participate in the T20I series thereafter. She also plans to compete in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) starting in September. Her surgery is scheduled during the Women’s ODI World Cup period, a tournament the West Indies will miss out on.
Expressing disappointment, Renegades’ general manager James Rosengarten stated, “We are clearly disappointed Hayley won’t be with us this season. She’s been instrumental during her time with the Renegades, not just with her performances but with her leadership and professionalism.”
He further noted the strong bond between Matthews and the club, underscoring their shared disappointment. The Renegades now need to fill all three overseas player slots at the WBBL draft in Melbourne.
The impact of Matthews’ absence will certainly be felt across the squad, both for her dynamic contributions on the field and her leadership qualities. Matthews’ surgery and subsequent recovery period mean cricket fans will need to wait until next year to see her in the WBBL once more.
Additional updates, including draft developments, are expected soon.
