Molineux takes charge as Australian women chase revenge against India for World Cup defeat

1 week ago 9

Sophie Molineux did not become captain of Australia’s cricket team because of a crisis or a coup, and yet she has found herself at the helm of a squad eager to navigate out of a major setback.

Molineux was named skipper last month, replacing Alyssa Healy who announced her retirement. Molineux will lead Australia’s squad in a multi-format series against their World Cup conquerors India starting this weekend.

Sophie Molineux is hoping to start her tenure as captain with a series win over India.

The series will mark Healy’s final act and the first time the Australians have come together since India eliminated them at the semi-finals of the World Cup in October. The Indians went on to win the tournament, beating South Africa in the final.

For the Australians, the upcoming series – starting with a T20 match at the SCG on Sunday night – will be a chance for revenge.

“We’ve had a bit of time to reflect,” Molineux said. “It was such a good tour – that was, I think, the hardest part to cop. We had a really good time off the field together and we played really, really good cricket, and we went through undefeated until that semi-final, so I think that’s why it was so hard to cop.

“Off the back of that we went straight into Big Bash, but I think all of us still were wearing it pretty heavily, the loss.”

The Indians celebrate their World Cup semi-final win over Australia last October.

Meeting India again, first in three T20 matches, then three one-day internationals and one four-day Test, will be the first challenge for the new captain. It’s also a chance to try out new talent, such as 19-year-old left-handed fast bowler Lucy Hamilton, and those returning to the squad for the first time in years, as 32-year-old Nicola Carey has done.

“It’s quite ironic I suppose,” Molineux said of facing India again. “I think they’re going to come over here with a lot of confidence off the back of that World Cup and how much momentum they gained over there from India.

“They’re all rock stars now. So they’re coming out here full of confidence, and we know, we’re well aware they’ll bring challenges we’ll have to face.

“I think that’s the next part of it, to look those challenges in the eye and run towards them.”

One teammate, Phoebe Litchfield, admits she’s probably spent too much time thinking about that semi-final. For her, it should have been one to remember fondly, after scoring her first World Cup century and becoming the youngest Australian woman to do so during a knock-out match, and the second-youngest across the whole tournament.

But while she’s watched the video of her century celebration back, she hasn’t watched her dismissal – where an attempt at a ramp shot saw her clean bowled for 119.

“I’ve rewatched my hundred celebration a couple of times,” she said. “I’ve never smiled that way before on a cricket field. So to then three hours later have it purely just ripped off my face, into tears ... That’s the game, I guess.

Phoebe Litchfield became the second-youngest Australian to score a century at the Women’s World Cup in October.

“Daily, it would come into my mind. It hurt. I think purely just because we think we let it slip. It wasn’t necessarily they beat us, I think we let them win.”

While much of the Australian squad knows what it’s like to win a World Cup trophy, 22-year-old Litchfield hasn’t won one yet.

“I’m chasing that, from a selfish point of view. Would love to get my hands on a trophy one day, and to contribute in the way I did in that tournament was really cool. But to not come away with anything was bittersweet.”