Sophie Molineux ruled out of Bangladesh ODI Series, Tahlia McGrath to captain

Australia women’s cricket team captain Sophie Molineux and all-rounder Lucy Hamilton have been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh. Hamilton suffered a minor quad strain while training, but the left-arm pacer should be fit for the following T20I series against New Zealand.

In Molineux’s absence, Tahlia McGrath will lead the side in the Bangladesh series set to be played from October 9 to 14 in Brisbane. On the other hand, Ashleigh Gardner will lead the T20I team against New Zealand, should Molineux fail to be fit in time.

Darcie Brown is unavailable for both series due to a back injury she suffered during the Australia A tour of India, while Grace Harris, who was part of Australia’s T20 World Cup-winning squad, has been left out of the squad for both series.

Australia women’s chief selector Shawn Flegler shared an update on Molineux’s fitness, informing that her hip injury has ruled her out of the upcoming ODI series.

"She suffered a hip injury just when she got back from the Hundred actually. She went into Cricket Victoria training, and it seemed a fairly innocuous hip injury initially, and unfortunately it just didn't progress as quickly as we thought it would up until until the weekend, to be honest and then she's sort of turned the corner. But I think it's too tight for the ODI series,” Flegler told reporters.

However, he said she will be alright for the T20 games.

"She'll be right for the T20 games. But we'll keep assessing during that particular series. But I can confirm that she's not going to play any of the ODIs against Bangladesh, unfortunately,” he added.

Australia’s squad for the Bangladesh and New Zealand series: Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton (T20I only), Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux (capt), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham