Sophie Molineux has been named in 14 members of Australia’s Test squad for the One Off test against South Africa for the first time since 2021.
Molineux named in Australia Test Squad
The spin-bowling allrounder Sophie Molineux has been recalled to the national side for the one-off Test on South Africa Women’s tour of Australia 2024.
She is the only change in the 14-member squad playing in a 3-match ODI series on South Africa women’s tour of Australia 2024.
She will be playing her first international since the third T20I match against India in October 2021 if gets selected in the final Xl.
Molineux was ruled out of the Ashes 2022, and ODI World Cup in 2022 due to a stress fracture in her foot and subsequently lost her national contract.
The left-arm spinner returned to WBBL 2022 but was sidelined due to an ACL injury midway through the season. She played for Victoria in the domestic one-day competition in December and immediately struck form, hitting 62 and taking a six-wicket haul in her second game.
She sits equal the top of the WNCL wickets in 17 wickets at 14.47 in six matches and scored 167 runs in six innings and hit 167 runs in six innings.
“It was a nice call to make, (Sophie’s) been through a lot in the last couple of years,” said CA Shawn Flegler.
“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 really 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.”
Brown will be replacing Cheatle in Australia Xl. “Really tough, devastating (for Cheatle), and the WACA probably would’ve suited her more than the India Test match, as well,” Flegler said.
“Our thoughts are with her, she just needs to concentrate on her health and hopefully she will come back and get herself right again and get herself back in contention.
“When she’s swinging it and bowling with some pace, she’s a threat – there’s not too many left-arm pace bowlers in the world like her. She just needs to focus on getting healthy.”
“It’s a little bit horse for courses,” Flegler said. “The WACA, if it is going to swing and bounce I think Meghan it could suit her. But yeah, we certainly didn’t rule her out of Test selection.
“We didn’t India was going to be suitable for her and I think that proved to be the case, but the WACA is a different proposition.”
“The three-day ‘Green v Gold’ match at Karen Rolton Oval is a new addition to supplement our Australia A program which aims to help prepare domestic players for all formats of international cricket,” Flegler said.
“With several established international players named in the squad, we’re looking forward to seeing a high level of cricket across the three days.”
Australian women and South African women will be playing their Off-test starting on February 15 at WACA Ground.
Australia Test Squad
Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham
South Africa Test Squad
Laura Wolvaardt, Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Mieke de Ridder, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Chloé Tryon, Delmi Tucker
