Australia could be without captain Sophie Molineux for their upcoming three-match ODI assignment against Bangladesh after the all-rounder suffered a hip injury.
A Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed that Molineux is being monitored but stopped short of putting a definitive timeline on her recovery. Molineux was left out of Victoria’s squad for the opening round of the Women’s National Cricket League, which begins tomorrow, adding uncertainty to her availability for Australia’s next international campaign. The national squad for the Bangladesh series is expected to be announced on Wednesday. “But the lessons that you learn from going through it just make me really grateful to be sitting here today with some pretty special memories under my belt.
The latest setback is another interruption in what has been an injury-affected period of Molineux’s career. Gardner, meanwhile, retained the board’s backing as vice-captain in August after Cricket Australia addressed her relationship with Georgia Voll, following the breakdown of Gardner’s marriage. “I am grateful that the CA Board has chosen to support my continued leadership. I look forward to playing a strong role as a leader and providing the best possible support for my teammates in the season to come.”
The three ODIs are scheduled to be played in Brisbane on October 9, 11 and 14.
“Sophie has an injury to her hip joint and her involvement in the upcoming series will continue to be assessed,” a CA spokesperson was quoted as saying by Cricinfo. Reflecting on the difficulties she has faced with injuries, Molineux recently said, “I suppose the injuries have taken up a large chunk of the last few years for me,” Molineux told Cricinfo recently. “While my separation from my wife is a personal matter, I understand my current relationship status needed to be addressed by Cricket Australia given my position as vice-captain,” Gardner said in an Instagram post at the time.
A back problem disrupted the beginning of her tenure as Australia captain earlier this year and forced her to miss the West Indies tour as a bowler, although she featured as a batter.
