Sophie Molineux succeeds Alyssa Healy as Australia's all-format captain

Australia have officially named Sophie Molineux as Alyssa Healy’s full-time successor as all-format captain, marking a significant leadership transition for the side. Molineux will take charge for the first time during the T20I leg of Australia’s upcoming multi-format home series against India. The left-arm spinner has been elevated ahead of current all-format vice-captain Tahlia McGrath, who will continue in her role.

Ashleigh Gardner, another long-term leadership option, has been appointed as a second

vice-captain, strengthening the leadership group under Molineux. Reacting to her appointment, the spin-bowling all-rounder described the role as a major personal milestone in her career while also acknowledging the legacy she inherits.

“It's a real honour to be named Australian captain and something I'm incredibly proud of, especially following on from Alyssa, who's had such a huge impact on this team and the game. We've got a really strong group with plenty of natural leaders, alongside a lot of exciting talent coming through, and I'm really looking forward to working together as we keep evolving and pushing ourselves to the next level, while staying true to the identity that makes this team so special. I'm incredibly grateful for the trust that's been shown in me, and I'm excited to grow alongside this group of players and see what we can achieve together with Tahlia, Ash and the rest of the team,” Molineux expressed via an official media release statement.

At 28, Molineux’s elevation is not without its uncertainties, largely due to her recent struggles with injury. A knee problem has kept her out of both T20I and Test cricket since 2024, while her return during last year’s ODI World Cup was closely monitored. She also featured only sparingly in the most recent Women’s Big Bash League season with the Melbourne Renegades, unable to be available for the full campaign.

However, her leadership credentials were reinforced by her success at the franchise level, having guided the Renegades to a long-awaited title in the 2024–25 season, a factor that weighed heavily in her national elevation.

Workload management a major concern for Sophie

Molineux will lead Australia in the three-match T20I series against India starting in mid-February. Healy is then set to return as captain for her farewell ODI series and final Test at the WACA in early March. Following that, Molineux will assume leadership duties across all formats on Australia’s multi-format tour of the Caribbean, which includes a Test match, before turning focus to the T20 World Cup in England in June.

National selector Shawn Flegler confirmed that workload management would remain a priority for the new captain.

“We will continue to manage Sophie's workload, prioritizing key tournaments and major international series following injury challenges in recent seasons. Tahlia McGrath remains vice-captain, recognizing her significant leadership contribution under Alyssa Healy. Tahlia has acted as stand-in captain on 16 occasions across formats, providing consistency and stability. Ash Gardner has been elevated to vice-captain alongside Tahlia, strengthening the team's leadership group. Ash and Tahlia provide complimentary skills in support of Sophie and are also both capable of leading the team as stand-in captain if required,” she said.

Selection-wise, leg-spinner Alana King has been omitted from the T20I squad for the India series after a challenging WBBL campaign. Meanwhile, Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes all-rounder Nicola Carey has earned a recall to both white-ball squads and is in line for her first international appearance since 2022 following a strong run in domestic and overseas competitions.

Veteran quick Megan Schutt appears to have played her final ODI after being left out of the 50-over squad, and she has also been excluded from the Test group. Nineteen-year-old left-arm pacer Lucy Hamilton has been named in her maiden Test squad.

“Nicola has had an impressive past couple of years in domestic cricket and has also performed well overseas in both England and India. She is an experienced player, with a strong skill set, and she will get an opportunity to test those skills as we build towards the T20 World Cup. Lucy is an exciting left-arm fast bowler who offers something different with the ball. She has worked hard on her game over the past few years and is someone we believe has a big future, while also benefiting from being around the group at this level," Flegler said.

Hamilton and King will also feature in the Governor General’s XI, which is scheduled to face India in a warm-up T20 match in Sydney on February 13, two days before the series gets underway.

Australia Women's squads for India series

T20I squad

Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux (capt), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham

ODI squad

Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Alyssa Healy (capt), Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham

Test squad

Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alyssa Healy (captain), Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham

Governor-General’s XI

Chloe Ainsworth, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Sianna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Charli Knott (capt), Anika Learoyd, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Rachel Trenaman, Georgia Voll, Corporal Frances Whittaker (Australian Defence Force)