The youngster’s recovery from a quadriceps injury will be closely monitored as Australia prepare to take on India in a multi-format series next month.
Phoebe Lichfield’s formidable season in the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL) has been interrupted by a quadriceps injury.
The stylish left-hander scored 243 runs in six innings and played a pivotal role in the prospects of his new team, the UP Warriors.
A CA spokesperson confirmed that Litchfield has returned to Australia to begin his rehabilitation ahead of the multi-format series against India starting on February 15.
With 18 days left until the start of the T20I, the decision to return to Japan is seen as a precautionary measure.
Litchfield played his last Indian League game on January 22, hitting 32 of 27 in his team’s loss to Gujarat Giants.
The 22-year-old has been in good form in six games this season, posting over 150 RBI, two for 50, and a high score of 78. He was at the top in batting until he was removed from the tournament.
Meg Lanning’s Warriors have signed England wicketkeeper-batsman Amy Jones to replace Lichfield, but losing their top run-getter will severely damage the side’s struggling chances of qualifying for the play-offs.
The Warriors currently sit at the bottom of the points table but have games remaining against the remaining teams. Realistically, they need to win their remaining two games and also need to improve their net run rate to earn one of the remaining two playoff spots.
Australia is expected to announce the squad for the multi-format series in the coming days.
Litchfield’s name is one that has cropped up in speculation regarding a potential successor to Alyssa Healy’s captaincy position, with the iconic keeper-batsman set to hang up his boots at the end of the series.
WPL 2026 Standings
| team |
matches played M |
victory W |
loss L |
tie T |
No results No/No |
net run rate N.R.R. |
deduction dead. |
total points PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 R.C.B. |
7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.947 | 0 | 10 |
|
2 GUJ |
7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -0.271 | 0 | 8 |
|
3 mummy |
7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.146 | 0 | 6 |
|
4 Dell |
7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -0.164 | 0 | 6 |
|
5 UPW |
6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -0.769 | 0 | 4 |
legend
mother: matches played
woman: victory
L: loss
Ta: tie
N/R: No results
NRR: net run rate
date: deduction
point: total points