AUS-W vs IND-W, 1st ODI: Here’s why Ellyse Perry is not playing in today’s match

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The battle for supremacy in women’s cricket reaches a fever pitch as the Australia Women vs India Women 1st ODI kicks off today at the iconic Allan Border Field in Brisbane. This clash marks the beginning of the 50-over leg of the India Women tour of Australia 2026, a series already buzzing with intensity after a hard-fought T20I stretch.

With the competitive end of T20I series, the stakes of ODIs couldn’t be higher. India enter this series with the swagger of champions, having recently secured the Women’s ODI World Cup in November 2025. For the Aussies, this is more than just a home series; it is a quest for redemption and a chance to wrestle back the momentum against a side that has become their fiercest modern rival.

The biggest talking point as the teams took the field wasn’t just the overcast Brisbane sky, but the conspicuous absence of a modern-day legend. Australia’s golden girl, Ellyse Perry, has been ruled out of today’s contest, along with fellow pacer Kim Garth.

During the toss, Australian captain Alyssa Healy confirmed the news that sent shockwaves through the stands. Perry and Garth are both nursing quad injuries sustained during the high-intensity third T20I in Adelaide just days ago. Healy, returning to lead the side in what is being dubbed her “farewell tour,” noted that the decision was a precautionary but necessary one given the heavy schedule ahead.

“No Perry, no Garth. Got some injuries picked up in the third T20. That’s probably the two notable changes,” Healy remarked.

While the loss of Perry, who recently celebrated her 350th international appearance, is a massive dent in Australia’s middle-order stability and bowling depth, it has opened the door for veteran Megan Schutt to return to the XI. For Perry, the focus now shifts to intensive rehabilitation, with her availability for the upcoming Test match at the WACA still hanging in the balance.

Also READ: Australia vs India, Women’s ODI Series: Schedule, Team News, Broadcast and Live Streaming Details

Australia: Alyssa Healy (c), Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Beth Mooney (wk), Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown

India: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur

Also READ: Fans erupt as Smriti Mandhana powers India to series-clinching win over Australia in 3rd Women’s T20I

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.