Molineux Out, McGrath Steps Up: Australia's Squad Shake-Up

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-09-30

### Australia's Captain Sidelined: What It Means for the Bangladesh ODIs Sophie Molineux won't be leading Australia in the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh. The captain is dealing with a hip injury that's taking longer to heal than anyone expected. In her place, Tahlia McGrath will step up as skipper. It's a big moment for McGrath, who's been a consistent performer for Australia. Lucy Hamilton, the left-arm seamer, is also out of the ODIs with a quad strain. But there's good news: both players should be back for the T20I series against New Zealand. ### The Squad: Who's In, Who's Out Cricket Australia announced a 14-player squad that covers both the Bangladesh ODIs and the New Zealand T20Is. The ODIs run from October 9 to 14 in Brisbane, while the T20Is follow from October 18 to 22 in Sydney. Here's the full squad: - 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 Hamilton is only listed for the T20Is. And with Molineux out, Australia has just 12 players available for the Bangladesh series. National selector Shawn Flegler said they'll add another player once the latest round of WNCL matches wraps up. ### Injury Updates: Molineux and Hamilton Molineux's hip issue popped up shortly after she returned from the Hundred. It seemed minor at first, but it just hasn't healed as quickly as the medical staff hoped. "I think it's too tight for the ODI series," Flegler told reporters. "She's starting to improve and will be fit for the T20Is." Molineux will travel with the squad and continue her rehab. Hamilton's quad strain is minor. Flegler expects her to be ready for the New Zealand matches. ### McGrath to Captain ODIs, Gardner on Standby for T20Is McGrath will lead the ODIs, with Ashleigh Gardner as vice-captain. Gardner hasn't captained Australia yet, but she's been endorsed by the board for a leadership role. If Molineux misses any T20Is, Gardner will take the reins. "The captaincy roles have been endorsed by the board," Flegler said. "We expect the leadership group to work well together." ### Darcie Brown Out with Back Injury Darcie Brown is unavailable for both series due to a back injury from the Australia A tour of India. A scan revealed a disc issue, and she'll need to rest from bowling and running for a few weeks. The worst-case scenario is a 10-week absence, but selectors hope she'll return for part of the WBBL, which starts at the end of October. If she misses the WBBL, she's still in contention for the Champions Trophy early next year. ### Grace Harris Misses Out Grace Harris, a member of the T20 World Cup-winning squad, isn't in either squad. Flegler explained that the smaller T20 squad and limited opportunities during the World Cup led to her omission, but she remains in the selectors' plans. ### What's Next for Australia? Australia's depth will be tested in the Bangladesh ODIs, but the return of Molineux and Hamilton for the T20Is will be a boost. McGrath's captaincy is a chance for her to show she can lead at the highest level. And with Gardner waiting in the wings, the leadership group looks strong. Stay tuned for more cricket updates.