India to bat as Australia lose Molineux for series

Joel Gould |

Sophie Molineux has a back injury and is out of the rest of the series against India.
Sophie Molineux has a back injury and is out of the rest of the series against India.

Australia have suffered another injury blow ahead of the second ODI against India with spinner and vice-captain Sophie Molineux sustaining a back injury.

Molineux’s place in the side for the clash in Hobart has been taken by allrounder Nicola Carey who has played 23 ODIs for Australia and performed strongly with both ball and bat.

Nicola Carey
Nicola Carey is back into the Australian side, having played in the recent T20 series. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

Cricket Australia confirmed Molineux’s injury in a statement on match day as India won the toss and elected to bat.

“Sophie Molineux has experienced some lower back pain and will not be available for the remainder of the series. 

“She will continue to be monitored ahead of the upcoming tour to the West Indies.” 

Molineux, if fit, will captain the side in the Caribbean in mid-March with current skipper Alyssa Healy set to retire at the end of this series.

The multi-format series is level with both sides on four points after two wins a piece.

Australia won the opening ODI in Brisbane on Tuesday by six wickets after India prevailed 2-1 in the T20 segment. 

Australia: Alyssa Healy (capt), Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Beth Mooney (wk),  Annabel Sutherland,  Ashleigh Gardner,  Tahlia McGrath,  Nicola Carey,  Alana King, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown.

India: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal,  Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma.

AAP