Molineux a chance to play home series despite injury
Scott Bailey |
Australia will give captain Sophie Molineux every chance to play in white-ball games against Bangladesh and New Zealand, as she battles a hip injury.
Molineux was on Wednesday named to captain Australia’s side for ODIs against Bangladesh and T20s against New Zealand next month, despite the injury.
Quick Darcie Brown has been sidelined with a back injury that also has her in doubt for the WBBL, while fellow pacer Lucy Hamilton will miss the ODIs with a quad strain.
But it is Molineux’s fitness that is of most interest ahead of the opening ODI in Brisbane on October 9.
The Victorian put aside a history of frustrating blows to have a stellar first six months as captain, culminating in Australia’s T20 World Cup win in England.
“Sophie has been named in the squad but has been managing a hip injury,” chief selector Shawn Flegler said.
“Her involvement in the series will continue to be assessed over the coming days.
“Lucy suffered a mild quad strain at training, but we’re hopeful she’ll recover in time to be fit and firing for the T20 series.”
If Molineux does miss, selectors will have to make a call between vice-captains Tahlia McGrath and Ashleigh Gardner to lead the side.
McGrath has traditionally been the preferred option, but did not feature in any games during Australia’s T20 World Cup success.
Gardner is yet to captain the side, and received the backing of Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg last month to remain vice-captain after a highly publicised affair.
AUSTRALIA’S WHITE-BALL SQUAD
Sophie Molineux (c), Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
AAP