All-rounder Sophie Molineux has been ruled out for the multi-format Ashes 2025 series due to injury which will require surgery while captain Alyssa Healy’s availability remains uncertain due to ongoing knee problems.
The left-arm spinner managed a knee issue through the WBBL while captaining Melbourne Renegades to a maiden title, but her injury flared again after the ODI series against India. Also, she was the fourth-leading wicket-taker in WBBL 2024.
Molineux was ruled out for the trip to New Zealand and now faces a further spell on the sidelines.
“Sophie Molineux will undergo left knee surgery next month, following that we will provide further updates on an anticipated return date,” said team physiotherapist Kate Beerworth.
Healy was able to keep wicket having handed the gloves to Beth Mooney in New Zealand. Healy has been included in the Governor General’s Xl squad for a 50-over warm-up game against England on January 09 at North Sydney Oval.
Australia reveal a 13-player squad for the white-ball fixtures of next month’s Women’s Ashes but hopes take a blow with Sophie Molineux set for surgery
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“That’ll be a great opportunity for me to take the gloves for a little bit and see how everything’s progressing,” told Healy. “I can’t really give you any more information than that. It’s kind of play it by ear at the moment to see how everything pulls up.
“But I did thoroughly enjoy running around the field in New Zealand. So if that’s the option and is less disruptive to our side, then that could be the way moving forward. But the aim is to take the gloves and hopefully I can do that.
“Having an angry joint in there and flaring that up, and knowing the really tight schedule with the Ashes as well, probably managing that and not wanting to blow it up too much that it’s going to affect my ability to play at all.”
“So that’ll be the real test, I think, in the next 10 days, moving into the series as to how that pulls up, how it responds to keeping again, and we’ll just assess as we go.”
Meanwhile, Australia has handed Georgia Voll with her first call-up for an Ashes series after her successful outings against India where she amassed 173 runs in three games, including a century.
“It was pleasing to see Alyssa Healy return to action against New Zealand and looked in good touch, along with a number of batters continuing their strong form on from the recent series against India,” national selector Shawn Flegler said.
“Whilst Georgia Voll didn’t play against New Zealand, she’s made a brilliant start to her international career and will be a strong option with the bat if required in her debut Ashes series. The bowling group provides plenty of variety which will be important against a strong England batting line up.”
On the other hand, Georgia Wareham has also been called into the Governor General’s Xl squad to replace Darcie Brown.
The Ashes starts with first ODI at North Sydney on January 12 followed by matches at Junction Oval in Melbourne and Hobart.
Australia ODI and T20I squad for Women’s Ashes: Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris (T20s only), Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
