Sophie Molineux has recurrence of knee soreness problem that will rule her out of the New Zealand ODI tour.
Sophie Molineux has given Australia a fresh injury concern ahead of the New Zealand tour. She is ruled out of the women’s ODI tour of New Zealand with a knee injury.
Australia was already worried about captain Alyssa Healy’s health due to her ailing knee, but Molineux’s injury on Saturday was more bad news.
This summer, the finger-spinner has struggled with knee problems, missing a few WBBL games with the Melbourne Renegades in order to treat joint soreness.
She participated in the final two games in Australia’s 3-0 series sweep of India. But she pulled up sore after Wednesday’s final victory in Perth.
She will now miss all of this month’s ODI matches against New Zealand. As bowling-all-rounder Heather Graham will replace her when she misses four weeks of the Ashes.
These matches also serve as the team’s final before the multi-format Ashes series next month. It is in which Australia hopes to win the trophy for the seventh consecutive year.
“Sophie Molineux has been withdrawn from the NZ Series due to knee soreness,” Cricket Australia said in a statement. “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.”
Better news for Australia is that Healy has at least been confirmed to go to New Zealand. After missing the conclusion of the T20 World Cup due to a foot ailment. Australia’s skipper missed the three One-Day Internationals against India due to a personal knee injury.
Given Georgia Voll’s outstanding start to her international career versus India, selectors may have a difficult time with Healy’s return.
After a breakout WBBL with the Sydney Thunder. Voll replaced Healy at the top of the order and scored 46 not out, 101, and 26.
However, Healy is anticipated to return to opening alongside Phoebe Litchfield, putting Voll at risk of being left off the ODI squad in New Zealand.
Voll would only be able to stay in the first-choice XI if the selectors decided to bravely leave out a more seasoned player and bat her lower in the order.