Australia recall left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux for Test match against South Africa
Australia’s spin depth has brought the international future of a longtime member of the all-conquering women’s side into question after the Test squad to face South Africa was unveiled.
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Sophie Molineux has marked her successful return from an ACL injury with a call-up to the Australian squad for the upcoming Test against South Africa.
The 26-year-old all-rounder has starred this season for Victoria in the WNCL, taking 17 wickets at an average of 14.47. She also captained the Governor-General’s XI against South Africa last month, finishing with 59 and 1-26 in the four-wicket victory.
It comes after an agonising run of injuries for the Victorian captain. She suffered a stress fracture in her foot that ruled her out of the 2021-22 Ashes and the 2022 World Cup. After losing her Cricket Australia contract, she then suffered an ACL injury while playing for the Melbourne Renegades in November 2022.
She is the only inclusion in the 14-player squad which sees Lauren Cheatle (unavailable) and Heather Graham (omitted) drop out.
Molineux will be looking to add to her two Test matches for Australia after making her red-ball debut as a 21-year-old during the 2019 Ashes series in England.
“It was a nice call to make,” head selector Shawn Flegler said. “She’s been through a lot in the last couple of years.
“She was pretty emotional, she’s put a lot of hard work in over the last 12 months but even the previous 12 months as well. She’s missed out on some big tournaments for us.
“She has come back and played well … has probably surprised herself a little bit with how well she’s gone. She’s an all-format player, was an all-format player before she got injured and she’s come back in great nick.”
Skip 🫡
— Victorian Cricket Team (@VicStateCricket) January 29, 2024
Superb left-arm spin bowling sees Soph Molineux get our fourth of the day!#vicsdoitbetter#WNCLpic.twitter.com/4eatwaCwTF
However, the left-arm spinner’s inclusion calls the future of Jess Jonassen’s international career into question.
Despite playing over 200 matches for her country, the 31-year-old has found herself on the outer from both white-ball formats in recent months. She last played in ODI cricket in July against Ireland, and her last home match came in the second T20I against the West Indies in October.
Flegler is adamant that Jonassen is still in contention for the match, but the depth of Australia’s spin options will make it hard for her to force her way into the XI.
“I think it’s hard to play two left-arm orthodox spinners in the same team because we’ve got some great options with leg spin as well,” Flegler said. “So you’re trying to pick a balanced squad with multiple bowling options.
“It’s been tough for Jess, absolutely. She’s got a great record for Australia. We value that and recognise it. But the players that have come in have done really well.
“But the door is certainly not closed. With a World Cup in Bangladesh and a series as well, those conditions might be more suitable for her type of bowling. We’ve just got some great competition in the squad and you’ve got to be on your game all the time to keep staying in the team.”
Back in blue 💙
— Victorian Cricket Team (@VicStateCricket) January 9, 2024
Skipper Soph Molineux takes us through what it was like to step back out onto a cricket field for Victoria again after a year out of the game.
Listen now 👉 https://t.co/vGnpXppLtspic.twitter.com/i5SAkgpIfz
Ash Gardner also had some hamstring tightness during the white-ball series and another spinner could be considered if the Belinda Clark Award-winner’s bowling loads need to be managed.
Darcie Brown will likely lead the pace attack as she looks to add to her three Test matches. The 20-year-old has been carefully managed throughout the white-ball series to ensure she is ready for the longer format.
Megan Schutt also remains in the Test squad despite not playing in the longest format since 2019 and signalling red-ball cricket might be behind her.
“It’s a little bit horse for courses,” Flegler said. “The WACA, if it is going to swing and bounce I think Megan it could suit her.
“We certainly didn’t rule her out of Test selection. We didn’t think India was going to be suitable for her and I think that proved to be the case. But the WACA is a different proposition. I think we just need to wait till we get there and see how the wicket looks I think.”
Australia has also named 26 players to take part in a three-day red-ball game in Adelaide from March 5-7. The ‘Green vs. Gold’ fixture will act as a chance to get more experience in the longer format, with all players who aren’t involved in the Women’s Premier League in India considered.
“The Australia A program, we’re ramping that back up again, and we want to have red-ball opportunities in every series that we play with Australia A,” Flegler said.
“This three-day fixture is something that supplements that. So we want to make this an annual fixture if we can.”
Australian squad for women’s Test against South Africa
Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham
‘Green’ squad for red-ball fixture
Heather Graham (c), Maitlan Brown, Maddy Darke, Amy Edgar, Alana King, Chloe Piparo, Lilly Mills, Kate Peterson, Sophie Reid, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Courtney Sippel, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Voll
‘Gold’ squad for red-ball fixture
Charli Knott, Emma de Broughe, Darcie Brown, Sophie Day, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Sianna Ginger, Milly Illingworth, Katie Mack, Grace Parsons, Courtney Webb, Amanda-Jade Wellington
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Originally published as Australia recall left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux for Test match against South Africa
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