Women’s Ashes 2024-25 – Sophie Molinuex eliminated from Ashes, Georgia fully included

Molineux, a left-arm spinner, battled a knee problem during the WBBL, where she captained the Melbourne Renegades to her maiden title, and the problem recurred after the ODI series against India. Molineux was ruled out of the recent trip to New Zealand and will now be sidelined again.

“Sophie Molineux will undergo surgery on her left knee next month. We will then provide further information on the expected return date,” said team physiotherapist Kate Beerworth.

One of the key issues Australia will need to resolve ahead of the Ashes will be whether Healy can keep wicket after handing over the gloves to Beth Mooney in New Zealand. Healy was included in the Governor General’s XI squad for a 50-over warm-up game against England at North Sydney Oval on January 9, which she said would be a good test for her knee.

“This will be a great opportunity for me to pick up the gloves for a while and see how everything develops,” Healy told reporters at the MCG. “I can’t really give you any further information. At the moment you’ll just have to play it by ear to see how it all turns out.”

“But I really enjoyed running around the field in New Zealand. So if that’s the option and it’s less disruptive to our team, then that could be the way forward. But the goal is to wear the gloves and hopefully I can do that.” .

“Having a raging joint in there and letting that flare up and also knowing the really tight schedule with the Ashes, probably managing that and not wanting to blow it up too much that it would affect my ability to play at all. So this.” The real test I think will be in the next 10 days when we start the series and see how it’s received, how it reacts when you keep it back on, and we’ll just assess it as we go continue.”

“It was pleasing to see Alyssa Healy return to action against New Zealand and in fine form, while a number of batsmen continued their strong form from the recent series against India,” said national selector Shawn Flegler.

“Despite not playing against New Zealand, Georgia Voll has made a brilliant start to her international career and will be a strong option with the bat if required in her first Ashes series. The bowling group offers a lot of variety, which will be important against a strong English batting line-up.”

A squad will be named in the coming weeks for the day-night Test at the MCG at the end of January.

“I think if you look at the way we have developed in Test cricket over the last few seasons, it has looked a bit different to what we have done in the white-ball format,” said Healy. “So there are a few reasons why this Test squad hasn’t been announced and we’ll probably be looking at that in the next few weeks just to see where all the bowlers are in domestic cricket and how much they’re doing.” prepare for a test match.

“Knowing that it’s a pink ball, that it swings a bit more and what the conditions are going to be, I think there are a few players around the country at the moment who are going for a baggy green ball could stretch, which I think is the case.” really exciting.”

The Ashes begins with the first ODI in North Sydney on January 12, followed by games at Junction Oval in Melbourne and Hobart.

Meanwhile, legspinner Georgia Wareham was also named in the Governor General’s XI squad in place of fast bowler Darcie Brown to give Wareham more playing time before the Ashes, as she only appeared in one of Australia’s last six ODIs where she did not obliged was bat or bowl.

Australian ODI and T20I squad for Women’s Ashes

Alyssa Healy (Captain), 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