Sophie Molineux will miss Australia’s ODI series against Bangladesh because of a hip injury. She was named in the ODI squad, but national selector Shawn Flegler confirmed she would not be available for the Brisbane matches. Tahlia McGrath will captain Australia in her absence, while Molineux remains with the group. Australia hope she can recover for the following T20I series against New Zealand.
Molineux suffered the injury after returning from The Hundred. Flegler said it first appeared to be minor, but her recovery did not move as quickly as expected. “She suffered a hip injury when she got back from The Hundred … it seemed a fairly innocuous hip injury initially, just unfortunately it didn’t progress as quickly as we thought it would up until the weekend,” he said. “She’s now turned a corner but I think it’s too tight for the ODI series … but she’ll be right for the T20 games (and) we’ll keep assessing her during that particular series.”
McGrath previously led Australia in the one-day series against the West Indies in April when Molineux missed out with a back injury. She was then the only player from Australia’s 15-member T20 World Cup squad who did not feature in the XI during the tournament. However, she made a return for South Australia in the WNCL on Tuesday. McGrath scored 154 from 137 deliveries against Victoria and also took two wickets.
“It was really great that she scored a brilliant hundred yesterday and took a couple of wickets, so she should go into that series with a lot of confidence,” Flegler said. He confirmed Australia’s arrangement allows either vice-captain to take charge. “We’ve got Ash and T-Mac as (co-)vice captains and it’s been endorsed by the board for either one of them to step up into the role.” If Molineux cannot play, Ashleigh Gardner will lead Australia for the first time.
Australia have 12 fit players in their ODI squad, with Lucy Hamilton and Darcie Brown unavailable because of injuries. Hamilton has been named in the T20I squad after a quad strain at Queensland training earlier this month. Brown has a disc injury following the Australia A tour of India, where she played two T20s and one one-dayer. She could miss up to 10 weeks, which could rule her out of most, if not all, of Weber WBBL 12.
Flegler said Australia are hopeful Brown can return for the inaugural T20 Champions Trophy in India in February. The three T20Is against New Zealand will be Australia’s only matches in the format before that tournament. He said Australia are settled after their World Cup campaign in England, although some places remain available. Tayla Vlaeminck, Anika Learoyd and Charli Knott were highlighted after Australia A matches against India A. The WPL and WBBL will provide chances to push for selection.
Bangladesh ODI schedule:
First ODI – Friday, October 9 (D/N)
Second ODI – Sunday, October 11 (D/N)
Third ODI – Wednesday, October 14 (D/N)
Venue – Allan Border Field, Brisbane
Start time – 1:50 PM local
Australia ODI squad vs Bangladesh:
Tahlia McGrath (C), Ashleigh Gardner (VC), Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
New Zealand T20I schedule:
First T20I – Sunday, October 18
Second T20I – Tuesday, October 20
Third T20I – Thursday, October 22
Venue – North Sydney Oval
Start time – 7:15 PM AEDT
Australia T20I squad vs New Zealand:
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 head into the Bangladesh ODIs with McGrath leading the side and Molineux unavailable for the series. The team will then move into the New Zealand T20Is, where Molineux will remain under assessment. Brown’s recovery will also be monitored ahead of the T20 Champions Trophy in February. With several players competing for places, performances in the WPL, WBBL and domestic cricket will form part of the selection picture before that tournament.
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