Injury-hit Sophie Molineux has been named in Australia’s ODI World Cup squad, and will be given every chance to play her first match in nine months.
Sophie Molineux will be given every chance to feature in Australia’s ODI World Cup defence, after being named to make her comeback from injury at the tournament.
Molineux was on Friday the big-name inclusion in Australia’s 15-women squad for next month’s tournament in India and Sri Lanka, with the group otherwise largely settled.
The finger-spinning allrounder has not played since last December, after being managed through the WBBL and requiring knee surgery in mid-January.
Molineux had identified the World Cup as a targeted return, having missed Australia’s last win in 2022 in New Zealand.
The Victorian is expected to come straight in for the tournament, given she is considered unlikely to play any of the three lead-in ODIs against India in Mumbai later this month.
Molineux’s inclusion comes with Australia also hopeful captain Alyssa Healy has overcome the foot issues that sidelined her for large parts of last summer.
There was another scare last month for Australia when spinner Georgia Wareham left the Hundred in England with an adductor strain, but she too has been named.
“Sophie Molineux is progressing well in her return from a knee injury, and we anticipate she’ll be available for the World Cup,” physio Kate Beerworth said.
“Alyssa Healy made a strong return in the recent ‘A’ series, and we’re pleased with where she’s at.
“Georgia Wareham’s also back to full training following her adductor injury during the Hundred.”
Molineux’s fitness is key for Australia, given she has taken 11 wickets at an average of 6.54 in Asia.
While that is from a limited return of five ODIs on the continent, her T20 record there of 20 wickets at 12.65 speaks to her skill on the slower pitches.
Uncapped spinner Charli Knott looms as the most likely replacement for Molineux if the Victorian does not recover in time, as she’s in the squad for three lead-in ODIs against India.
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The 22-year-old Georgia Voll is the main new face in Australia’s squad, having never featured in any form of World Cup before and having struggled in the recent edition of the Hundred.
Voll burst onto the scene last summer with a century in her second ODI against India, placing pressure on Australia’s established top order.
Fellow batter Phoebe Litchfield, who was the Hundred’s player of the tournament, seamer Kim Garth and legspinner Wareham are also set for their first 50-over World Cups, after previously playing in T20 ones.
Australia face New Zealand in their tournament opener on October 1, with all eight teams to play each other once before semi-finals and a final on November 2.
Healy’s side are attempting to be the first team to win back-to-back ODI World Cups since Australia claimed three straight in 1978, 1982 and 1988.
Australia did win the last World Cup in India in 2013, and swept their last bilateral series in the country 3-0 in late 2023.
Australia squad: Alyssa Healy (captain), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.
