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Sophie Molineux has been ruled out of Australia’s ODI series against New Zealand.
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Sophie Molineux (R) celebrates with captain Smriti Mandhana (L) after taking the wicket of Delhi Capitals’ Shafali Verma during the Women’s Premier League (WPL) Twenty20 cricket final match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on March 17, 2024. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP)
A recurring knee injury has sidelined left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux from Australia’s upcoming ODI series against New Zealand starting on Thursday, a Cricket Australia (CA) statement confirmed on Saturday.
Molineux, who has struggled with knee issues throughout the summer, aggravated her condition during the final ODI against India in Perth on Wednesday. After Australia secured a 3-0 series sweep over India, Molineux felt sore.
This latest flare-up means she will miss all three ODIs against New Zealand, with all-rounder Heather Graham drafted into the Australian squad.
“Sophie Molineux has been withdrawn from the NZ Series due to knee soreness. Heather Graham will join the squad in New Zealand on Tuesday, following Tasmania’s Women’s National Cricket League matches against New South Wales in Hobart,” said CA in its statement.
With Molineux out, leg-spinner Georgia Wareham is the frontrunner to take her place in the playing eleven after being rested for the last two ODIs against India.
In more welcoming news for Australia, skipper Alyssa Healy is set to return after recovering from her own knee injury. Healy, who missed the ODI series against India and the latter stages of the T20 World Cup due to a foot issue, will likely reclaim her position at the top of the order alongside Phoebe Litchfield.
But her return creates a potential selection headache for the team as Georgia Voll shone in Healy’s absence, and made an impressive start to her international career by making 46 not out 101 – her maiden ODI century and 26 against India.
Australian selectors are now faced with a tough dilemma: to accommodate Georgia in the middle order at the expense of Alyssa or another batter, or to leave the youngster out of the starting eleven altogether.
Australia squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Heather Graham, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – IANS)
- Location :
Perth, Australia
