Australia's Injury Shake-Up: Who Steps Up in Bangladesh ODIs?

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-09-30

### Australia's Injury Woes: Molineux and Hamilton Out Australia's women's cricket team is facing a major shake-up as captain Sophie Molineux and left-arm seamer Lucy Hamilton are sidelined with injuries for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh. The news comes as a blow to the squad, but it also opens the door for others to step up. Tahlia McGrath will lead the side in Molineux's absence, and both injured players are expected to return for the T20I series against New Zealand later this month. Molineux is dealing with a hip injury she picked up shortly after returning from the Hundred. National selector Shawn Flegler mentioned that the injury seemed minor at first, but it healed slower than expected. "I think it's too tight for the ODI series," Flegler told reporters. The good news? She's already improving and should be fit for the T20Is. Hamilton, on the other hand, suffered a minor quad strain during training. Flegler is confident she'll recover in time for the New Zealand matches. ### Squad Announcement: Who's In, Who's Out Cricket Australia named a 14-player white-ball squad on Tuesday that covers both home series. The ODIs against Bangladesh will be played from October 9 to 14 in Brisbane, while the T20Is against New Zealand follow from October 18 to 22 in Sydney. Hamilton is listed for the T20I matches only. The squad includes: - Nicola Carey - Ashleigh Gardner - Kim Garth - Alana King - Phoebe Litchfield - Beth Mooney - Ellyse Perry - Megan Schutt - Annabel Sutherland - Georgia Voll - Georgia Wareham - Tahlia McGrath - Sophie Molineux - Lucy Hamilton Currently, Australia has only 12 players available for the Bangladesh series, which will be played over six days at Allan Border Field. Flegler said the team will add another player once the latest round of WNCL matches finishes. ### Captaincy Calls: McGrath Takes the Reins With Molineux out, Tahlia McGrath will captain the ODI side. Interestingly, Ashleigh Gardner, who is also a vice-captain, hasn't led Australia in any format since her appointment. Her relationship with teammate Georgia Voll became public, and she needed the Cricket Australia board to endorse her in the role. Voll is also part of the squad. Flegler said Gardner will captain the T20I side if Molineux misses any of the New Zealand matches, because McGrath is not in Australia's first-choice T20I XI. He added that the attention on her personal life would not affect the arrangement. "The captaincy roles have been endorsed by the board," Flegler said, and he expects the leadership group to work well together. ### Injury Updates: Brown and Harris Darcie Brown is unavailable for both series with a back injury she picked up during the Australia A tour of India. A scan revealed a disc issue that hasn't improved, so she'll stop bowling and running for a few weeks before starting a gradual reload. The worst-case scenario is a 10-week absence, though selectors hope she returns for part of the WBBL, which begins at the end of October. If she misses the tournament, she remains in contention for the Champions Trophy early next year. Grace Harris, part of the T20 World Cup-winning squad, is not in the squad for either series. Flegler explained that the smaller T20 squad and limited chances during the World Cup left her out, but she remains in the selectors' plans. ### What This Means for Australia's Campaign These injuries present both challenges and opportunities. The team will need to adapt quickly, especially with a condensed schedule. McGrath's leadership will be tested, and players like Gardner and Voll will have a chance to shine. The absence of experienced players like Molineux and Brown means others must step up, particularly in the bowling department. As the series approaches, all eyes will be on how Australia manages these setbacks. Will they rise to the occasion? Only time will tell. But one thing's for sure: this series just got a lot more interesting.