Sophie Molineux’s stop-start international career has hit another hurdle. The 28-year-old all-rounder woke up sore after last week’s opening ODI against India in Brisbane and, following medical checks in Hobart, has been ruled out of the rest of the multi-format series.
“It’s a bit of lower-back pain,” national selector Shawn Flegler told Channel 7. “So unfortunately that means she’s going to miss the rest of the series and we’ll look towards her being available for the West Indies series coming up. We don’t want to take any risks with the T20 World Cup coming up.”
The injury is not catastrophic—Molineux can still bat and run—but bowling places too much stress on the area. Scans are booked, and the physios have already started what Flegler called an “off-loading” period. That simply means rest and targeted strengthening rather than full nets.
Australia are due to fly to the Caribbean in mid-March, with Molineux pencilled in to captain across all three formats. If she fails to recover, joint vice-captains Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath are the logical stand-ins. McGrath, curiously, did not play a single T20 against India yet was named ODI vice-captain once Molineux withdrew.
Back trouble is only the latest entry on Molineux’s medical chart. A serious knee problem wiped out most of last year, and there have been wrist and shoulder complaints before that. Even so, selectors saw enough leadership potential to position her as Alyssa Healy’s long-term successor.
“The Sophie Molineux news today was a bit of a shock for everyone and a disappointing one for her,” Healy admitted on Fox Cricket.
Australia’s treatment room is getting crowded. Ellyse Perry and Kim Garth have already been ruled out of the ODI leg with quad strains and remain doubtful for the one-off Test at the WACA on 6 March. With the T20 World Cup only five months away, management are erring on the side of caution—rotation and rehabilitation taking priority over immediate results.
For now, Australia face India in Hobart without three first-choice players and their freshly anointed skipper. How quickly Molineux’s back settles will shape not only the Caribbean tour but, potentially, Australia’s white-ball plans for the rest of 2026.
