Grace Harris chosen as replacement for Beth Mooney ahead of women's Ashes T20 opener

Grace Harris will replace injured batter Beth Mooney, having been called into Australia's Ashes squad just hours out from the series opener in Adelaide.

Harris was confirmed as Mooney's replacement on Thursday, added ahead of Elyse Villani and Georgia Redmayne for the Twenty20 matches.

Her call-up is a further sign that Australia will opt for a specialist opener alongside Alyssa Healy, after Mooney was struck in the jaw at training earlier this week.

The world's top-ranked T20 batter has since undergone surgery, with Australian officials unsure how long she will be out.

Rachael Haynes had loomed as a likely option to replace Mooney, but selectors have indicated they want her to play in the middle order.

If Harris does open in Thursday night's T20, it will likely create a middle-order squeeze and result in superstar allrounder Ellyse Perry being left out.

Haynes did not play in the most recent India series, but is a certainty to return against England at number 4 or 5.

The last time the women's Ashes were held, Australia ran away with a landslide victory, but since then England have found their mojo and are eager to challenge the home country for the trophy.

Tahlia McGrath also stepped-up in her absence, leaving Perry as the likely odd one out.

Perry would likely still be in Australia's best team for the Test and one-day components of the series.

Meanwhile, the hard-hitting Harris last played for Australia in 2016, and has since developed a cult-hero status at the Brisbane Heat.

She made 50 and 15 in a warm-up match for Australia A against Australia earlier this week, convincing selectors she was the woman for the job.

«Whilst the injury to Beth is unfortunate it does provide an opportunity for someone else to step in to the squad,»