Australia captain Sophie Molineux will miss the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh after suffering a hip injury, while fast bowler Lucy Hamilton has also been ruled out of the opening rounds of the domestic season with a quadriceps strain.
The injuries have created uncertainty around Australia’s squad at the start of a busy international schedule, although Cricket Australia remains optimistic that both players will be available for the T20I series against New Zealand later this month.
Molineux Ruled Out of Bangladesh ODIs
Molineux has been sidelined after injuring her hip shortly after returning from The Hundred. The injury has already forced her out of Victoria’s opening Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) fixtures and will also keep her out of Australia’s three-match ODI series against Bangladesh in Brisbane.
Cricket Australia confirmed that the skipper’s recovery is progressing, but not quickly enough for the Bangladesh series.
National selector Shawn Flegler explained that the injury initially appeared to be minor.
“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 added that Australia expect Molineux to return during the subsequent T20I series against New Zealand.
“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.”
Despite missing the ODIs, Molineux will remain with the Australian squad throughout the series.
McGrath Takes Over Captaincy
With Molineux unavailable, Tahlia McGrath will captain Australia during the Bangladesh ODIs.
McGrath previously led Australia during the ODI series against the West Indies earlier this year when Molineux was recovering from a back injury.
She heads into the series in excellent form after scoring 154 from 137 deliveries and taking two wickets for South Australia in the opening round of the WNCL.
Flegler praised the all-rounder’s performance.
“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.”
He also confirmed Australia’s leadership structure allows either vice-captain to step into the captaincy.
“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.”
Ashleigh Gardner therefore remains another captaincy option if required.
Hamilton and Brown Also Managing Injuries
Lucy Hamilton will miss the Bangladesh ODIs after suffering a quadriceps strain during Queensland training earlier this month. However, she has been selected in Australia’s squad for the three-match T20I series against New Zealand, with Cricket Australia expecting her to recover in time.
Meanwhile, Darcie Brown is unavailable after sustaining a disc injury during Australia A’s recent tour of India.
Brown could spend up to ten weeks on the sidelines, placing much of her Weber WBBL campaign in doubt.
Australia are nevertheless hopeful she will recover before the inaugural ICC Women’s T20 Champions Trophy in India next February.
Busy Months Ahead for Australia
Australia begin a hectic international schedule with three ICC Women’s Championship ODIs against Bangladesh before switching focus to the T20 format against New Zealand.
The New Zealand series will be Australia’s first T20I assignment since lifting the Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this year.
Following that, New Zealand will return in March for a three-match ODI series after the inaugural Champions Trophy.
Selectors will also closely monitor performances in the WBBL, WPL and domestic competitions as competition for places continues ahead of the major tournaments scheduled over the next 12 months.
Australia ODI Squad vs Bangladesh
- Tahlia McGrath (captain)
- Ashleigh Gardner (vice-captain)
- Nicola Carey
- Kim Garth
- Alana King
- Phoebe Litchfield
- Beth Mooney
- Ellyse Perry
- Megan Schutt
- Annabel Sutherland
- Georgia Voll
- Georgia Wareham
Bangladesh ODI Schedule
- First ODI: October 9 (Day/Night)
- Second ODI: October 11 (Day/Night)
- Third ODI: October 14 (Day/Night)
Venue: Allan Border Field, Brisbane
Australia T20I Squad vs New Zealand
- Sophie Molineux (captain)
- Ashleigh Gardner (vice-captain)
- Tahlia McGrath (vice-captain)
- Nicola Carey
- Kim Garth
- Lucy Hamilton
- Alana King
- Phoebe Litchfield
- Beth Mooney
- Ellyse Perry
- Megan Schutt
- Annabel Sutherland
- Georgia Voll
- Georgia Wareham
New Zealand T20I Schedule
- First T20I: October 18
- Second T20I: October 20
- Third T20I: October 22
Venue: North Sydney Oval
Australia will head into the Bangladesh series under McGrath’s leadership before hoping to welcome both Molineux and Hamilton back for the New Zealand T20Is. With several players competing for places ahead of next year’s T20 Champions Trophy, the coming months of international and domestic cricket are expected to play a significant role in shaping Australia’s squad.
