Big blows for Australia, West Indies ahead of WWC semi

West Indies have been dealt a blow ahead of this evening's semi-final against Australia with news that veteran spinner Afy Fletcher will miss the cut-throat clash after being diagnosed with Covid-19.

Young all-rounder Mandy Mangru - who has been in New Zealand as a travelling reserve - has been drafted into the squad as Fletcher's replacement and is in contention to play her first game of the tournament.

The loss of Fletcher reduces West Indies' bowling options against the powerful Australia line-up and robs them of an experienced player who has played 58 ODI games for the Caribbean side.

Fletcher has picked up four wickets from three matches at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, with her best haul coming against Bangladesh when she collected 3/29 from 10 overs in Mount Maunganui.

Mangru has played just one ODI for West Indies and that came in the lead-up to the World Cup when she won a debut against South Africa in Johannesburg last month.

The 22-year-old scored 15 runs batting at number six on that occasion and registered bowling figures of 0/15 from three overs with her handy off-spin.

In the meantime, Australia, odds-on favourites to get the better of the Caribbean side, will be without star all-rounder Ellyse Perry for the semi-final clash.

Perry was the chief destroyer with the ball when the two teams met in Wellington earlier in the tournament, with the experienced all-rounder picking up three top-order wickets as Australia cruised to a seven-wicket triumph.

THE TEAMS

Australia Squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nic Carey, Ash Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington. Travelling reserves: Georgia Redmayne, Heather Graham

West Indies Squad: Stafanie Taylor (c), Anisa Mohammed (vc), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman, Rashada William. Travelling Reserves: Kaysia Schultz, Mandy Mangru, Jannillea Glasgow