Lanning grounded by shoulder problems

A shoulder problem has forced Australia's captain Meg Lanning out of at least the Word Cup match against Pakistan in Leicester later on Wednesday. Rachael Haynes will be included to lead the side in her absence.

Lanning aggravated a long-running shoulder complaint at training ahead of the match, with the selectors recommending to the Cricket Australia board that Haynes, 30, take over while Alex Blackwell remains vice-captain.

The state of Lanning's shoulder is a considerable worry for Australia given her pivotal role in the team, and there is no certainty that she will only be missing from the Pakistan fixture.

"Meg has been undergoing rehabilitation on her right shoulder, following a chronic injury," the team physio, Kate Mahony, said. "The decision for Meg to miss today's match will enable her to focus on some rehabilitation and we'll continue to monitor her ahead of taking part in any further matches in the tournament."

Haynes, meanwhile, has played 34 ODIs for Australia with a solid batting record to her credit, but has not been part of the first-choice team at that tournament so far. "Rachael has a wealth of leadership experience including successfully guiding Victoria to back-to-back national Twenty20 titles," the national selector, Shawn Flegler, said, "and alongside Alex, will ensure the team is led to continue their current form.

"We know that Rachael is capable of coming in and doing the job that is asked of her as she demonstrated in New Zealand earlier this year when she scored a half-century after a lengthy absence from the national side."