Australia Announce Squad For Women's World Cup 2022, Experienced Spinner Misses Out Due To Injury

Australia have announced a 15-member squad along with two travelling reserves for the upcoming Women’s World Cup 2022 scheduled to be held in New Zealand. The side will be missing Sophie Molineux, the 24-year old spinner who has been ruled out of the tournament with a stress fracture to her right foot while playing in the Women’s Big Bash League. He previously missed the Ashes series as well for her side.

Sophie Molineux’s absence is a big blow to the Australian side and especially their spin attack with Georgia Wareham also missing the Ashes, World Cup and the Commonwealth Games due to an ACL tear. Amanda-Jade Wellington has been added to the squad as Sophie’s replacement. Grace Harris and Alana King are the other two spinners included in the squad.

“Sophie Molineux unfortunately misses out due to injury; she was unlikely to be available until the back end of the tournament and with limited match time and having to complete ten days managed isolation, it was a tough call, but we weren’t prepared to take the risk,” National Selector Shawn Flegler said.

“Amanda-Jade provides us with another quality spin option… leg-spin has been a big part of our success in recent years and while Alana King is currently doing that role for us, there’s no reason we couldn’t play both in the same team if conditions and match-ups suit,” Flegler added.

National Selector Shawn Flegler also kept a word on Grace Harris who last played an ODI for Australia way back in 2016. She has not played enough cricket in recent times as well. However, Flegler is confident that she will be crucial addition as a spinner with her versatility with the bat.

“Grace didn’t get much of a go in the recent T20s, but she brings the versatility to bat anywhere in the top or middle-order and her bowling could also be a real asset throughout the tournament as we’ve seen orthodox spinners have a lot of success in New Zealand.”

Australia will reach New Zealand on February 10 following which they will be on a 10-day mandatory isolation period. The Aussies play their first match against rivals England on March 5 in Hamilton.

Australia Squad For Women’s World Cup 2022

Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Travelling reserves: Hannah Darlington, Georgia Redmayne

Also Read: ‘Let’s See’: Mithali Raj On Her Cricketing Future Post ICC Women’s World Cup 2022