Maitlan Brown will undergo surgery after sustaining a season-ending hamstring injury playing for Melbourne Renegades in the WBBL cricket clash against the Hobart Hurricanes last week.
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The 23-year-old opening bowler expects to be sidelined for up to six months.
Brown said she felt 'no pain' when she sustained the injury although she said it was 'a bit funky.'
"But I had scans later and it was messy inside,'' she said.
The scans showed a tendon tear.
"It's going to be a long rehab,'' she said from the WBBL bubble at the Sydney Olympic Centre, where all the teams involved in the competition are domiciled.
"I will be off my feet for about five or six weeks. Hopefully then I'll be able to do some running and ride my bike.''
Brown has played 59 matches for the Renegades since joining the franchise in the second season of the WBBL.
She's taken 44 wickets, although she was wicketless from four matches she played this campaign.
Brown was called into the Australian squad for a T20 and ODI series against New Zealand in September and October. She understands there's a tour of New Zealand coming up after the WBBL, but realises she won't be going.
Brown didn't make her international debut in the series against New Zealand.
However, she said being included in the extended squad with the world champions was 'an awesome experience.'
"I thought I might have been a chance in the ODIs. But they're such a strong team and it was just great to be around the players,'' she said.
She's staying in the bubble for the foreseeable future.
"I won't be able to drive so travel is out,'' she explained.
And Brown is enjoying life in the bubble, even releasing a video in conjunction with the WBBL - Maitlan Brown's Tour de Village - where she walked viewers through the complex, which she described as 'a wonderful hub'.
"Getting to interact with the other players from other teams is awesome,'' she said. "Usually we just catch up briefly after games. And I don't have to cook here, so that's even better.''
Brown concedes getting back to full fitness will be a challenge. She's had some injury problems in the past but nothing to this extent.
However, she's already started rehab plans and spoke to a dietitian this week as part of the process.
Brown is confident of being 100 percent right for the start of next season's WBBL: "For sure,'' she said.