After breaking her rib during training, which might keep her out of action for up to eight weeks, Australia’s Sophie Molineux, an all-rounder, may have to race to be ready for the New Zealand series before the T20 World Cup.
Due to the injury, Molineux is unable to participate in the Hundred, where she was scheduled to join Manchester Originals. Another probable option for the World Cup team, Grace Harris, will also be absent from the competition as she was scheduled to represent London Spirit due to a calf problem.
“Molineux suffered an acute rib fracture after being struck by a ball in the chest while batting last week,” a statement from the CA stated. “An ailment to her calf that she had in training for The Hundred and the following season worsened for Harris. She is currently enrolled in a return-to-play program and undergoing progressive rehabilitation.”
Before traveling to Bangladesh for the T20 World Cup, which begins on October 3, Australia plays three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) against New Zealand from September 19 to September 24.
After a string of injuries, left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Molineux made his Australia debut in February, his first since 2021. Before being awarded Player of the Series in the T20Is against Bangladesh after taking six wickets at an average of 8.33 in the match, she made her comeback in the one-off Test match against South Africa in Perth. She returned to the ODI side and bagged 3 for 10 earlier in the trip.
Molineux will be replaced at Originals by Kim Garth, and Megan Schutt has been recruited as a substitute to the Spirit team.
Due to their signings, Maitlan Brown and Kate Peterson will be called up to the Australia A teams, which will play India A in Queensland next month. While Peterson was previously just included in the four-day squad, Brown was already scheduled to play in the one-day matches and will now also be included in the T20 series.
Alyssa Healy, the captain, and Darcie Brown, the fast bowler, who is still recovering from a stress fracture in her foot, are the only other contracted Australian players who will not be participating in the Australia A or Hundred series.
Australia has another hectic season ahead of it internationally. Early in December, they host India at home before playing three One-Day Internationals in New Zealand. The multi-format Ashes, which includes a day-night Test at the MCG in January, is followed by a voyage back over the Tasman in late March. In addition, the WPL is anticipated to begin in early March, while the WBBL begins a week following the T20 World Cup.
Read More: Hamza Shaikh century caps powerful display from Young Lions batters
