Sophie Molineux Takes Over as Australia Captain, India Squad Announced

Australia named Sophie Molineux as their new women’s captain ahead of the India series, while India announced their squad for the upcoming tour.

Sophie Molineux has been appointed as Australia’s new women’s captain across all formats, replacing Alyssa Healy. The 28-year-old spin-bowling allrounder will first lead the T20I side during the home series against India next month. She will later take charge of the ODI and Test teams on the Caribbean tour in March.

Tahlia McGrath continues as vice-captain, with Ashleigh Gardner elevated as joint deputy. McGrath previously captained Australia in 15 matches during Healy’s absence. Gardner also filled leadership roles on several occasions.

Molineux will become Australia’s ninth T20I captain when the series opener takes place at the SCG on February 15. Healy will still lead the upcoming one-day internationals and Test before retiring.

“It’s a real honour to be named Australian captain and something I’m incredibly proud of, especially following on from Alyssa, who’s had such a huge impact on this team and the game,” Molineux said in a statement.

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“We’ve got a really strong group with plenty of natural leaders, alongside a lot of exciting talent coming through, and I’m really looking forward to working together as we keep evolving and pushing ourselves to the next level, while staying true to the identity that makes this team so special,” she added.

Australia, India Name Squads Across Formats

Australia and India has announced their T20I, ODI, and Test squads for the upcoming series. For Australia, Nicola Carey returns to international cricket in both white-ball formats. Nineteen-year-old fast bowler Lucy Hamilton earns her first national call-up and could debut in Tests.

Phoebe Litchfield features in all three squads despite a quad injury ruling her out of the WPL. Selectors leave leg-spinner Alana King out of the T20I side. Megan Schutt, Grace Harris, and Heather Graham miss ODI selection. Schutt remains in the T20I squad but not the ODI team.

T20I Squad

Australia T20I squad: Sophie Molineux (c), Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham

India T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Arundhati Reddy, Amanjot Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Shreyanka Patil

February 15: First T20, SCG

February 19: Second T20, Manuka Oval, Canberra

February 21: Third T20, Adelaide Oval

ODI Squad

Australia ODI squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Sophie Molineux (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham

India ODI squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Kashvee Gautam, Amanjot Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Uma Chetry, Harleen Deol 

February 24: First ODI, Allan Border Field, Brisbane

February 27: Second ODI, Bellerive Oval, Hobart

March 1: Third ODI, Bellerive Oval, Hobart

Test Squad

Australia Test squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Sophie Molineux (vc), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham

India Test squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh, Sneh Rana, Amanjot Kaur, Uma Chetry, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare

March 6-9: Test match, WACA Ground

Australia’s Governor-General’s XI Squad

Australia also named a 13-player Governor-General’s XI to face India on February 13 at North Sydney Oval. Charli Knott will captain the side.

Squad: Charli Knott (c), Chloe Ainsworth, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Sianna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Anika Learoyd, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Rachel Trenaman, Georgia Voll, Corporal Frances Whittaker