Cricket Australia (CA) is set to announce a new captain for the women’s national cricket team across all three formats following Alyssa Healy’s retirement. As reported by 7Cricket, star all-rounder Sophie Molineux is expected to be named Australia’s new all-format captain, taking charge in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
Healy recently confirmed that she will retire from international cricket, with the home series against India in February-March set to be her final assignment. The wicketkeeper-batter also decided not to play in the T20Is, as the team needs time to shape a new leader ahead of the T20 World Cup later in the year.
Sophie Molineux Set to Take Over as Australia Women’s All-Format Captain
According to a report by veteran cricket journalist Daniel Cherny (via Channel 7), Sophie Molineux is set to become Australia’s all-format captain for the women’s team. Her appointment has surprised some, as vice-captain Tahlia McGrath was not chosen to succeed Alyssa Healy.
Molineux already has leadership experience, having captained the Melbourne Renegades since 2021. Under her captaincy, the team reached the finals in the 2024-25 season.
Sophie Molineux’s International Career and Key Performances
Sophie Molineux made her international debut for Australia in a T20I match against India in Mumbai in March 2018. Later that year, she earned her ODI cap against Pakistan in Kuala Lumpur before making her Test debut during the high-pressure Ashes series against England at Taunton in July 2019.
Molineux has featured in 38 T20I matches, claiming 41 wickets at an average of 18.68 and an economy rate of 5.78. She has also taken 31 wickets in 17 ODIs at an average of 17.00, with career-best figures of 4/14.
She has shown her value as a genuine all-rounder, especially in the longest format. In her three Test appearances, Molineux has picked up seven wickets, with best figures of 4/95, and has also contributed 97 runs lower down the order.
It’s Been A Long Time Coming – Alyssa Healy
Speaking on the Willow Talk podcast, Alyssa Healy said that repeated injuries and mental fatigue made it harder to push herself the way she once did. She pointed out that last year’s WBBL surprised her, as cricket started to feel like just another day’s work.
“It’s been a long time coming. The last few years has been probably more mentally draining than anything else. A few injuries. I’ve got to dive into the well, and the well is getting less and less full of water. Getting harder to dive back in there,” Healy said.
“I’ve always felt like I’ve had a competitive edge in that I want to compete, I want to win and I want to challenge myself on the park. I’ve felt as I’ve got a little bit older, I’ve not necessarily lost all of it, but I’ve lost some of that.”
“I think the WBBL [last year] was probably a bit of a wake-up call. Not being able to hold the bat with two hands didn’t help either, but waking up and going, ‘just another day of cricket’, really surprised myself because I still thought I loved playing the game.”
