Sophie Molineux set for injury return at Women’s Cricket World Cup as there are no surprises in Australia’s 15-player group.
Legspinner Georgia Wareham has recovered from the injury that prompted her to leave the Hundred early, and Sophie Molineux is expected to be healthy for the ODI World Cup after being included in Australia’s 15-man squad for the competition in India and Sri Lanka.
As Australia looks to defend the title they won in New Zealand in 2022, the two will be an important element of their spin attack at the World Cup. Since undergoing knee surgery late last year, Molineux, the left-arm spinner, has been sidelined. She may miss the ODI series against India prior to the tournament, though, as she has not yet received the all-clear.
“Sophie Molineux is progressing well in her return from a knee injury, and we anticipate she’ll be available for the World Cup,” Australia physio Kate Beerworth said. “Georgia Wareham also back to full training following her adductor injury during the Hundred.”
The Australia squad apart from Sophie Molineux
There are no surprises in Australia’s team, which will be captained by Alyssa Healy. Georgia Voll was included following her outstanding debut in international cricket, while Grace Harris will bat last.
Although Harris has only participated in two ODIs since 2016 and did not bat in each game, the selectors like her expertise and believe she will give depth to the middle-order.
“She’s a different player for us,” Shawn Flegler, the national selector, said. “In the role that she might play in ODI cricket, I think it would be more down the bottom and middle order. The way she bats, the experience she’s got in India, that’s probably why she got selected.
“She’s a little bit different to some other middle order batters. She can take a game away in a few overs. If she gets that opportunity, I think she could be really good.”
Voll is one of five players – alongside Molineux, Wareham, Phoebe Litchfield and Kim Garth – to be included in their first 50-over World Cup squad.
Healy’s Health
After recovering from a foot injury she had during the Ashes last year, Healy scored 137 runs off of 85 balls against India A last month. Her ability to hold wickets throughout the competition is hoped upon.
“She knows her body well,” Flegler said. “Like all players, they need to recover well after games. The schedule is pretty tight. But I think our particular schedule, we’ve got breaks in between each game as well. There’s lots of travel involved…it’s a long tournament. So it’s not just Alyssa who’ll be looking after herself. It’ll be the whole squad.”