Sophie Molineux ruled out of Australia squad for Women’s Ashes

Australia all-rounder Sophie Molineux has been ruled out of the Women’s Ashes with a knee injury.

Molineux is the major absentee from the squad for the one-day internationals and T20s in the multi-format series, with captain Alyssa Healy named after recovering from her own knee problems.

Off-spinner Molineux, who also missed the 2021-22 and 2023 Ashes series through injury, will undergo surgery in January after struggling in the third one-day international with India earlier this month.

Healy missed that series, but returned to action in the two-match rubber in New Zealand, although she handed the wicketkeeping duties to Beth Mooney.

The 34-year-old has been named in the Governor-General’s XI squad to face England in Sydney on January 9 ahead of the Ashes when she hopes to take the gloves.

“It’s kind of play it by ear at the moment to see how everything pulls up, but I did enjoy running around the field in New Zealand, so if that’s the option and it’s less disruptive to our side, then that could be the way moving forward,” she said.

“The real test will be in the next 10 days moving into the series, as to how that (knee) pulls up, how that responds to me keeping again.”

Georgia Voll, 21, retains her place in the squad for the white-ball matches having made her debut at the top of the order in Healy’s absence against India.

Grace Harris will join the squad for the T20s.

The Ashes starts on January 12 with the first of three one-day internationals, followed by three T20s and a day-night Test over four days from January 30 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Australia retained the Ashes in England in 2023 having won the Test match before the hosts levelled the series on points with victories in both white-ball formats.