Worry for the Australia women cricket team grows ahead of Ashes as all-rounder Sophie Molineux is ruled out after suffering a stress fracture to her right foot. The unfortunate news comes over a month after leg spinner Georgia Wareham ruptured her ACL in the early days of Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season 7 forcing her to miss a major part of the league along with some big tournaments scheduled for next year- Ashes in January/February 2022 Women’s World Cup in March/April, Commonwealth Games in July/August.
Molineux, who led Melbourne Renegades to the knockout stage of WBBL after finishing second in the table, didn’t come out to bat against Adelaide Strikers in the crucial match to decide Perth Scorchers opponent in the Finals which Renegades ended up losing.
Not a good news for the Australian Women’s Team with both Ashes and World Cup just a few months away.
Wishing you a speedy recovery @SophieMolineux1 #CWC22 #WomensAshes pic.twitter.com/TymsBoUxyv
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) December 7, 2021
Giving an update on her unfortunate injury, the team’s doctor, Pip Inge informed that Sophie won’t be available either for Victoria in the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) which starts December 16 or for the multi-format Ashes starting January 27 but is hopeful to bring her back to the field in New Zealand for the World Cup.
She said, “Sophie sustained a stress fracture to her right foot during the last week of the WBBL,”
She is currently offloading in a moon boot and a return to play plan has been developed in conjunction with Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia medical staff.
“Sophie’s focus now shifts to her rehabilitation plan which means she’ll be unavailable for any upcoming domestic matches as well as the Ashes in January.
“At this stage we are aiming to have Sophie available for the ICC Women’s World Cup in New Zealand in March.”
Both the injuries have raised concern for Cricket Australia who would be deciding on a squad for both the Ashes and the World Cup soon. Meanwhile, the Women’s Ashes begin from January 27 with the one-off test followed by three T20Is from 4th to 10th February and three ODIs from 13th to 19th.
Wishing both Molineux and Wareham a speedy recovery!!
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