Cricket Australia (CA) on Thursday announced Alyssa Healy’s full-time successor Sophie Molyneux as the national team’s all-format captain.
Molyneux will make his captaincy debut in the T20I section of the upcoming multi-format home series against India.
The 28-year-old Victorian spinner has been promoted over current all-forms vice-captain Tahlia McGrath, who will continue in her leadership role.
Another captaincy candidate, Ashley Gardner, has been named second vice-captain alongside McGrath at Molineux.
“It’s a real honor to be named Australian captain and I’m incredibly proud, especially following Alyssa who has made such a huge impact on this team and the game,” Molyneux said.
“We’ve got a strong team with a lot of natural leaders and working with a lot of amazing talent, and I look forward to working together as we evolve and push ourselves to the next level, while staying true to the identity that makes this team so great.
“I am very grateful for the confidence shown in me and I am excited to grow with this group of players and see what we can achieve together with Tahlia, Ash and the rest of the team.”
Molineux is considered a left-field option after he was carefully managed during last year’s ODI World Cup, having ruled out T20I or Test cricket since 2024 due to a knee injury.
He missed the entire WBBL season for the Melbourne Renegades.
However, his successful tenure as the Renegades captain, leading the team to a drought-breaking WBBL title in 2024-25, was a key factor in his elevation to the national captaincy.
Molyneux will lead Australia in three T20Is against India in mid-February before Alyssa Healy returns for her farewell ODI series and final Test at the WACA in early March.
He will captain all three formats during Australia’s tour of the Caribbean, including a Test, before preparing for the T20 World Cup in England in June.
National selector Shaun Fleckler insisted Molineux’s workload would be carefully managed due to his injury history.
“We will continue to manage Sophie’s workload, prioritizing major tournaments and major international series following the injury challenges of recent seasons,” Fleckler said.
“Tahlia McGrath remains vice-captain, in recognition of her significant leadership contribution under Alyssa Healy. Tahlia has provided stability and consistency with her 16-time captaincy.
“Ash Gardner has been promoted to vice-captain alongside Tahlia, which strengthens the team’s leadership team. Ash and Tahlia provide complimentary skills to support Sophie and are capable of leading the team as stand-in captains if required.”
Changes have also been made in the team selection. Legspinner Alana King has been dropped from the T20I squad following a challenging WBBL campaign.
Tasmania all-rounder Nicola Carey returns to the white-ball side in what will mark her first international appearance since 2022.
Veteran Megan Shutt may have played her last ODI as she has been dropped from the 50-over and Test squads. In his place, 19-year-old left-arm fast bowler Lucy Hamilton has been called into the Test squad for the first time.
“Nikola has been doing well over the last couple of years in domestic cricket and has done well overseas in both England and India,” Fleckler said.
“She is a seasoned player with strong skills and will get an opportunity to test those skills as we build towards the T20 World Cup.
“Lucy is a fantastic left-arm fast bowler who offers something different with the ball. She has worked hard on her game over the last few years and we believe she has a big future with the team at this level.”
Ahead of the series starting on February 15, both Hamilton and King will feature in the Governor General’s XI against India in a warm-up T20I in Sydney on February 13.
Australia T20 squad:
Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux (captain), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll and Georgia Wareham.
Australia ODI Squad:
Darcy Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashley Gardner, Kim Garth, Alyssa Healy (captain), Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molyneux, Beth Mooney, Ellis Perry, Annabelle Sutherland, Georgia Wall and Georgia Wareham.
Australia Test Squad:
Darcy Brown, Ashley Gardner, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alyssa Healy (captain), Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molyneux, Beth Mooney, Elise Perry, Annabelle Sutherland, Georgia Wall and Georgia Wareham.
Governor General XI:
Chloe Ainsworth, Nicole Faldham, Des Flintoff, Kim Garth, Sienna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Charlie Knott (Captain), Anika Learoid, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Rachel Drenaman, Georgia Wall and Corporal Frances Whittaker (A Forces)