Sophie Molineux stood on Waterloo Bridge this week, shoulder-to-shoulder with the other 11 captains, and spoke about a very unfamiliar feeling for Australia: turning up to a World Cup without a trophy to defend. Rather than worry about that absence, the 28-year-old wants it to loosen her side up.
“I think it can free us up if we harness that,” Molineux said of arriving with no title to protect for the first time since 2018. “The last couple of World Cups we’ve learnt a whole lot from that and been able to implement a few things.
“I feel like we’ve really evolved as a team in the last few months and even before that. So I’m really excited and I think the girls are really hungry to get out there and be able to put that in place. I don’t think there’s any better arena to be able to do it at a World Cup in the big moments that are going to come in the next few weeks.”
It is a measured sentiment that matches the mood around the squad. Last week co-vice-captain Ash Gardner told ESPNcricinfo that “all the pressure was on New Zealand as reigning champions.” Molineux did not disagree; instead, she framed Australia’s own position as an opportunity rather than a burden.
The left-arm spinner replaced Alyssa Healy at the start of the year, although a stress reaction in her back forced her to bat only on the Caribbean tour in March. Since then, medical staff have proceeded with caution: limited overs, extra gym work and a couple of solid hit-outs in Arundel where she collected 2 for 17 and 1 for 16 against South Africa. That was enough to convince selectors – and Molineux herself – that the body is fine.
“As a person and leader, I’d like to be calm,” she said. “I also care a lot about this team and the people in it, first and foremost that the people in the environment feel like they can be themselves. That’s been a big thing coming in.”
“We’ve got all the ingredients there. Now we’ve got the stage and the opportunity to be able to show that over the next few weeks. The girls are really hungry to be able to do that. I’m really excited for what this group can do.”
Australia have not played a women’s international at Old Trafford since a drawn Test back in 1976. Saturday’s opener against South Africa therefore comes with a small slice of the unknown, although the squad’s collective experience in English domestic cricket – especially the Hundred – should soften that.
“We’ve spoken about this a little bit,” Molineux said. “Our squads have a lot of experience over here in England. Players like Grace Harris have spent a lot of time out here and a lot of runs in England as well. We’ll definitely have to lean into that and make sure we make use of all that knowledge.”
From a tactical angle, the balance of the XI still needs fine-tuning. Two further warm-ups in Cardiff, on Monday against England and Wednesday versus West Indies, will be used to settle on combinations: perhaps an extra seamer if the pitches stay green, or an additional spinner if they take turn. Either way, Molineux’s own overs look central to whatever template the coaching staff finally endorse.
Analytically, Australia’s recent results have been patchy rather than poor – a semi-final exit at the last tournament and a mixed, injury-hit tour of the Caribbean. The batting, led by Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry, has remained productive, but the bowling group conceded more boundaries than usual. Molineux herself admitted the side has “a few rough edges to smooth out”, yet insisted the fundamentals – depth, versatility and experience – remain intact.
The mental side, she hopes, will follow the same path as her back: a bit tender at first, yet dependable once the hard work is done. If that happens, the five-time champions should again be in the conversation come the knockout stages. And if they do lift the trophy at Lord’s early next month, the captain will almost certainly point back to this week, to that moment on a London bridge when she asked her team to relax, breathe, and play as though nothing needs defending.
