Australia captain Sophie Molineux has been handed match and named in Australia’s squad for the T20 World Cup.
The 28-year-old all-rounder will lead a 15-strong squad for the event in England, with help from vice-captains Ash Gardner and Tahlia McGrath.
Quick bowler Lucy Hamilton has been chosen for her first worldwide event because the six-time champions look to regain the World Cup title after shedding within the semi-finals in 2024.
All-rounders Annabel Sutherland and Grace Harris return to the squad having been rested and dropped respectively for the tour of the West Indies in March.
Molineux was appointed to the Australia captaincy in January, changing the retired Alyssa Healy, and was thought of a shock choose following a profession blighted by harm.
She injured her again previous to the tour of the Caribbean, her first away sequence as captain, the place she performed solely as a batter.
Australia nationwide selector Shawn Flegler had beforehand confirmed, exterior that Molineux wouldn’t have been thought of for a non-bowling position on the World Cup.
“Sophie has already made her mark as captain and constructed a robust reference to the group during the last couple of excursions, so we’re wanting ahead to seeing what this aspect can obtain below her management,” Flegler stated upon the squad’s announcement.
“Darcie Brown was unfortunate to overlook out however the determination was based mostly on the situations we’re anticipating and the make-up of the aspect.
“With at the least six right-arm tempo choices within the combine and uncooked tempo anticipated to be much less efficient, we opted to go together with Lucy Hamilton who affords one thing totally different as a left-arm fast.”
Molineux’s aspect will play warm-up fixtures towards South Africa, England and the West Indies earlier than opening their event towards South Africa on 13 June at Previous Trafford.
