Australia Name Sophie Molineux as All-Format Captain for India Series

Sophie Molineux, a spin bowling all-rounder, was named the Australian women's T20 captain on Thursday for the series against ODI world champions India next month. Following the home assignment, she will take over as the leader across formats from Alyssa Healy. After captaining the Australian squad in three One-Day Internationals and one Test match against India, Healy declared her retirement from international cricket.

Molineux's selection to manage the national women's team was confirmed by Cricket Australia on Thursday. The new captain said, "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."

On February 15, India's tour of Australia kicks off with a three-match Twenty20 International series in Sydney. The remaining two games will take place in Canberra and Adelaide on February 19 and 21. The dates of the three-match ODI series are February 24, 27, and March 1. Allan Border Field in Brisbane will host the opening game, while Hobart's Bellerive Oval will host the following two.

Sophie Molineux Takes on a Big Role:

Sophie Molineux is beginning her exciting next chapter as captain of the Australian Women's cricket team 🙌

More 👉 https://t.co/1vT9GUJOqvpic.twitter.com/WRzfXDUjq3

— ICC (@ICC) January 29, 2026

Despite Phoebe Litchfield's exclusion from the current WPL, the selectors have included the left-handed batter in their squads across all formats. Megan Schutt, Grace Harris, and Heather Graham are not included in the ODI team, while Alana King has been left out of the T20I squad.

Following Australia's defeat to India in the World Cup quarterfinal last year, Schutt was anticipated to retire from ODIs. Molineux, 28, became the youngest captain in the Women's Big Bash League when she succeeded Meg Lanning at Melbourne Renegades. Later, she led Victoria.

T20Is Australia Squad: Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham, and Sophie Molineux (c). 

ODIs Australia Squad: Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham, Alyssa Healy (c), and Sophie Molineux (vc).

One-off Test Australia Squad: Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham, Alyssa Healy (c), and Sophie Molineux (vc).

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