Darcie Brown ruled out of entire WBBL season with back injury

Darcie Brown has been ruled out of the entire Weber Women's Big Bash League season with a back disc injury. The 23-year-old Australia fast bowler developed the problem during the Australia A tour of India last month. She was assessed following her return home and placed on a de-loading programme, but the injury has not yet recovered to a point where she is ready to resume training.

Brown was unavailable for Australia's ODI series against Bangladesh after the injury worsened. She had hoped to use the WBBL to push her case for an international recall ahead of February's T20 Champions Trophy in India. The injury is also a blow to Adelaide Strikers' pace stocks as they look to return to the WBBL finals.

Cricket Australia said Brown will be unable to return to full fitness in time for the upcoming WBBL season, which runs from October 29 to December 5. No replacement has been confirmed for Brown in the Adelaide Strikers squad. She remains in contention for the Women's T20 Champions Trophy.