Cricket Australia (CA) is set to announce the new captain for the women’s national cricket team in all three formats following the retirement of Alyssa Healy. Star all-rounder Sophie Molineux is expected to be named Australia’s new all-format captain, taking charge in Tests, ODIs and T20Is, reports 7Cricket.
Healy recently confirmed that she would be retiring from international cricket, with the home series against India in February–March being her last assignment. The wicketkeeper-batsman also decided not to play in the T20Is as the team needs time to groom a new leader ahead of the T20 World Cup later in the year.
Sophie Molyneux is ready to take over as Australia Women’s all-format captain
According to a report by veteran cricket journalist Daniel Cherney (via Channel 7), Sophie Molineux is set to become Australia’s all-format captain for the women’s team. Her appointment has surprised some, as vice-captain Tahlia McGrath was not selected to replace Alyssa Healy.
Molineux already has leadership experience, having captained the Melbourne Renegades since 2021. Under his captaincy the team reached the final in the 2024–25 season.
Sophie Molyneux’s international career and key performances
Sophie Molineux made her international debut for Australia in a T20I match against India in Mumbai in March 2018. Later that year, he earned his ODI cap against Pakistan in Kuala Lumpur before making his Test debut during the high-pressure Ashes series against England in Taunton in July 2019.
Molineux has taken 41 wickets in 38 T20I matches at an average of 18.68 and an economy rate of 5.78. He has also taken 31 wickets in 17 ODIs at an average of 17.00, with a career best of 4/14.
He has shown his value as a genuine all-rounder, especially in the longest format. In his three Test matches, Molineux has taken seven wickets, with best figures of 4/95, and also contributed 97 runs down the order.
It’s been a long time coming – Alyssa Healy
Speaking on the Willow Talk podcast, Alyssa Healy said that repeated injuries and mental fatigue have made it difficult to push herself the way she used to. He said that last year’s WBBL took him by surprise as cricket seemed like just another day’s work to him.
Healy said, “It’s been a long time. The last few years have probably been more mentally draining than anything else. There have been some injuries. I’ve had to dive down the well and the well is getting less and less filled with water. It’s getting harder to dive back in there.”
“I’ve always felt I’ve had a competitive edge, I want to compete, I want to win and I want to challenge myself on the park. I’ve felt as I’ve grown up a bit, I haven’t necessarily lost everything, but I’ve lost some of that.”
“I think the WBBL [last year] Maybe it was a warning of sorts. Not being able to hold the bat with both hands didn’t help either, but waking up and going, ‘Just another day of cricket’, really surprised me because I still felt I loved playing the game.”
ALSO READ: Salman Ali Aga admits he hates Babar Azam’s questions during press while Mitchell Marsh gives shocking praise
