Due to travel restrictions related to Covid-19, Australia’s Rachael Haynes has withdrawn from The Hundred, a professional franchise 100-ball cricket tournament involving eight men’s and women’s teams located in major cities across England.
Rachael was scheduled to represent the Oval Invincibles in the tournament which gets underway on July 21.
“We’re disappointed to lose a player of Rachael’s stature and ability, but the realities of COVID mean there remain practicalities that are difficult for some overseas players to overcome,” an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) spokesperson told Standard Sport.
“A replacement overseas player will be signed by Oval Invincibles, and we look forward to showcasing the women’s game with world-class players performing on a big platform through The Hundred this summer,” the spokesperson further said.
Significantly, The Hundred is a professional franchise 100-ball cricket tournament in England and Wales run by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) which was originally scheduled to start in the summer of 2020 however, it was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tournament will start with a women’s game between Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals at The Kia Oval on July 21.