Australia captain Alyssa Healy has been ruled out of the first T20 of the Women’s Ashes because of a foot injury.

The match against England takes place at the Sydney Cricket Ground, starting at 08:15 GMT on Monday.

Cricket Australia said the 34-year-old had soreness “on the same side as her previous plantar fascia injury” that she picked up during the Women’s T20 World Cup last autumn.

She subsequently missed Australia’s series against India and played only as a batter in the following series against New Zealand.

Cricket Australia added that she will be assessed by medical staff before it is able to confirm her availability for the remainder of the series.

All-rounder Tahlia McGrath is likely to step in as captain in the absence of Healy, who top scored with 70 in the opening one-day international at the North Sydney Oval.

Beth Mooney will keep wicket while Grace Harris or 21-year-old Georgia Voll are the likely candidates to fill the opening spot.

Australia completed a 3-0 clean sweep in the ODI series to take a 6-0 points lead in the multi-format Ashes, which means England need to win every remaining match to win the trophy for the first time in more than a decade.

One more victory would see Australia retain the Ashes because England would then only be able to draw the series.

The T20s are all worth two points, with the second match to be played at Canberra on 23 January and the third at Adelaide two days later.

The series concludes with a four-day Test match, worth four points, from 30 January at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.