Australia Announces Sophie Molineux as New All-Format Captain

Sophie Molineux has been named Australia's new all-format captain, succeeding Alyssa Healy, who will retire in March 2026. The 28-year-old left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder will lead Australia in the upcoming T20I series against India, starting February 15, and take over as captain for all formats in the Caribbean tour. "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," Molineux said. Sophie Molineux, a 28-year-old Victorian spinner, has been named Australia's new all-format captain despite not playing T20Is or Tests since 2024 due to a knee injury. She was managed conservatively in the ODI World Cup last year and didn't play a full WBBL season for Melbourne Renegades. Her selection is unexpected given her limited recent international experience, making her a surprise choice for the role. National selector Shawn Flegler said that Molineux was the right choice as captain despite also noting that she would not play every game as they manage her workload due to her injury history. "We will continue to manage Sophie's workload, prioritising key tournaments and major international series following injury challenges in recent seasons," Flegler said. Molineux, who captains Victoria and Melbourne Renegades, has shown her leadership skills by guiding Renegades to their maiden WBBL title. She'll be supported by vice-captains Tahlia McGrath and Ashleigh Gardner.