Taylor returns home

Claire Taylor is to return home from Australia due to injury. "Knowing I'll take no further part in the tour is tough," she said

England women’s batter Claire Taylor has today been ruled out of the rest of the team’s tour of Australia.

Taylor sustained damage to ligaments in her left shoulder when diving during England’s second warm-up match against Western Australia on January 3.

She will take no further part in either the Twenty20 series or the Ashes Test and will return to the UK in the next few days to commence a rehabilitation programme.

Taylor said: “Representing England on an Australian tour is the ultimate goal for many players. I’ve been lucky enough to play in Australia several times before and I was really looking to performing for England out here. To have that cut short by injury is devastating.

“My preparation at home, in Sri Lanka and out here has all gone to plan and I felt in form in our two warm-up matches so knowing I’ll take no further part in the tour is tough.

“Injuries happen, it was one of those freak occurrences, I landed awkwardly and there’s nothing I could have done to prevent it happening. I will get stuck into rehabilitation and come back in time for the domestic season and England women’s quad series in the summer.”