Australia captain Sophie Molineux has confirmed she is fit for the opening T20I against New Zealand at North Sydney Oval after recovering from a hip injury. However, Phoebe Litchfield remains doubtful after suffering a hip muscle strain while batting in the second ODI in Brisbane. The 23-year-old missed Wednesday’s final match and was also absent from Friday’s training session. With three T20Is scheduled across five days, Australia are unlikely to take risks with their No.3 batter before she is fully ready.
Molineux missed all three ODIs against Bangladesh after picking up the injury following her return from The Hundred. She trained strongly in Brisbane last week and said on Friday that she was ready to return. “I’m ready to go,” she said. “It was pretty unfortunate timing in terms of getting back from The Hundred and having to miss out on those games against Bangladesh, but I’m really excited to get back out there on Sunday.” Speaking about Litchfield, she added, “Phoebe’s tracking OK … unsure (if she’ll play) just yet, we’ll just keep an eye on her over the next couple of days.”
Left-arm fast bowler Lucy Hamilton is also in the running for a place in the team. She played for the Governor-General’s XI on Thursday evening after missing the Bangladesh ODIs with a quad niggle. During the rain-affected match, which was shortened to 10 overs per side, Hamilton struggled with her run-up in wet conditions in her second over. She bowled four no-balls and a wide, but remains in contention after a successful T20 World Cup campaign.
Molineux’s return could create a selection challenge for Australia, with deputy Tahlia McGrath potentially missing out. McGrath was not included in the playing XI during the T20 World Cup in June and July. Hamilton will also compete with Megan Schutt for a place in the side. Schutt took 10 wickets at an average of seven in the ODI series against Bangladesh but played only one match during the ICC T20 World Cup in the UK. Australia will hold another training session at North Sydney Oval on Saturday evening before the first T20I.
The series will also see Australia and New Zealand compete for the Rose Bowl trophy. It was previously awarded only for ODI series, but fewer 50-over matches on the calendar mean it will now be contested in all white-ball series. Australia have held the trophy since February 2000, longer than four members of their squad and seven New Zealand players have been alive. Molineux said, “Twenty-six years is a long time. There’s a special rivalry between New Zealand and Australia and it’s been a long-standing one.” She also said competing for the trophy twice within six months was exciting.
Australia T20I squad for New Zealand series:
Sophie Molineux (C), Ashleigh Gardner (VC), Tahlia McGrath (VC), Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
Australia Women’s T20 Series v New Zealand:
First T20I: Sunday, October 18
Second T20I: Tuesday, October 20
Third T20I: Thursday, October 22
All matches will take place at North Sydney Oval, starting at 7:15pm AEDT
New Zealand T20I Squad for Australia series:
Melie Kerr (C), Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis (WK), Bella James, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Izzy Sharp
Australia will begin the series with Molineux available, while Litchfield’s fitness remains uncertain and Hamilton competes for selection. The three T20Is will give both teams the chance to fight for the Rose Bowl under its expanded white-ball format. All women’s international matches will be shown live on Seven, 7Plus, Kayo Sports and Foxtel.
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