West Indies and Melbourne Renegades’ Hayley Matthews, currently ranked World No. 1 in T20Is and No. 2 in ODIs, is set to undergo shoulder surgery for the injury the all-rounder had picked up while fielding during the first ODI on a tour of England. The 27-year-old will consequently miss the upcoming Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia.

According to the ICC, Matthews will be sidelined for a while despite returning for a home series against South Africa, where she scored 104 runs, including a half-century, and took four wickets.

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Matthews, who has amassed 5,902 runs and 12 centuries across both white-ball formats and claimed 236 wickets, has opted to go under the knife now, especially since the national side won’t be participating in the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. Her goal is to regain full fitness in time for the 2026 season.

Matthews had been pre-signed by the Renegades for what would have been her fourth season with the team.

The side’s general manager, James Rosengarten, expressed disappointment, emphasising Matthews’ valuable contributions both on and off the field. “Hayley has played a key role for us—not only with her performance but also through her leadership and professionalism,” he said.