Injury spoils Molineux’s World Cup dream as Wellington and Harris earn call-ups

Spin bowler Sophie Molineux has been left out of Australia’s touring party for next month’s ODI World Cup in New Zealand due to injury with Amanda-Jade Wellington and Grace Harris earning call-ups to the 15-player squad.

Molineux, the left-arm orthodox tweaker, had already been ruled out of the current Ashes series with a stress fracture in her left foot.

Sophie Molineux will miss the Women’s ODI World Cup in March due to injury. Credit:Getty

It was hoped the 24-year-old would be fit in time for the 50-over World Cup, beginning on March 5 in Hamilton, but due to a mix of injury and quarantine arrangements, will remain in Australia.

“[Molineux] was unlikely to be available until the backend of the tournament and with limited match time and having to complete ten days managed isolation, it was a tough call, but we weren’t prepared to take the risk,” said national selector Shawn Flegler.

Australia’s squad boasts a wealth of talent and experience, with Meg Lanning to captain a side hoping to win its first Women’s ODI World Cup since 2013.

15-player Australian squad for Women’s Cricket World Cup

Darcie Brown (SA/Northern Districts CC)

Nic Carey (TAS/North Hobart CC)

Ash Gardner (NSW/Bankstown CC)

Grace Harris (QLD/Western Suburbs CC)

Rachael Haynes (VC) (NSW/Sydney CC)

Alyssa Healy (NSW/Sydney CC)

Jess Jonassen (QLD/Valleys District CC)

Alana King (WA/Midland Guildford CC)

Meg Lanning (C) (VIC/Box Hill CC)

Tahlia McGrath (SA/Glenelg CC)

Beth Mooney (QLD/Sandgate-Redcliffe CC)

Ellyse Perry (VIC/Dandenong CC)

Megan Schutt (SA/Sturt CC)

Annabel Sutherland (VIC/Prahan CC)

Amanda-Jade Wellington (SA, West Torrens CC)

Australia suffered a 36-run defeat in their semi-final match against India at the last 50-over World Cup in 2017.

The likes of vice-captain Rachael Haynes, Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney and Jess Jonassen will all be on the plane to New Zealand on February 10.

Hannah Darlington and Georgia Redmayne will travel with the team as reserves should replacements be needed if COVID-19 positive cases emerge.

Meanwhile, Elyse Villani, Maitlan Brown, Stella Campbell, Molly Strano and Heather Graham will travel with the national team to Melbourne for the last two matches of the Ashes series as stand-by players.

“Some seriously good players have missed out, but we’ve been able to include them as standby players should injury or COVID come into play,” Flegler said.

The big winners are Wellington and Harris, who haven’t played one-day cricket for Australia since 2018 and 2016, respectively.

Leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington. Credit:Getty

Wellington will be the second leg-spinner in the squad, alongside Alana King, while Harris is a highly rated all-rounder who averages 20.36 with the ball in women’s ODI matches.

“Amanda-Jade provides us with another quality spin option and has the potential to play an important role spinning the ball away from the bat,” Flegler said.

“Leg-spin has been a big part of our success in recent years and while Alana King is currently doing that role for us, there’s no reason we couldn’t play both in the same team if conditions and match-ups suit.

“Grace didn’t get much of a go in the recent T20s, but she brings the versatility to bat anywhere in the top or middle order and her bowling could also be a real asset throughout the tournament as we’ve seen orthodox spinners have a lot of success in New Zealand.”

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