Australia women's team Archives

Allrounder Molineux named Australia women’s all-format captain

Spin-bowling allrounder Sophie Molineux was named captain of the all-conquering Australia women’s cricket team across all three formats on Thursday, replacing the retiring Alyssa Healy.

The 28-year-old will take the reins of the T20 side when Australia hosts India next month, before assuming the one-day and Test duties for their tour of the Caribbean in March.

“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,” said Molineux, who captains Victoria and the Melbourne Renegades.

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“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.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the trust that’s been shown in me, and I’m excited to grow alongside this group of players and see what we can achieve together with Tahlia, Ash and the rest of the team.”

Alyssa Healy, 35, announced earlier this month that she would retire in March, having taken over as captain in 2023 from Meg Lanning.

Tahlia McGrath, who had filled in for Healy before and was tipped by many as her successor, remains vice-captain alongside Ashleigh Gardner.

Australia is the top-ranked ODI and T20 team in the world.

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Can’t wait to play first-ever day-night Test: Alyssa Healy

Australia women’s captain Alyssa Healy has expressed her excitement for the upcoming first-ever day-night Test match at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Healy and vice-captain Tahlia McGrath were at the MCG last night to mark six months to go until Australia and England play in the day-night Women’s Ashes Test between January 30 – February 2, 2025.

The match coincides with the 90th anniversary of the first-ever women’s Test Match at the MCG, which was the third Test of the Australia-England series in 1934-35.

“We can’t wait to play the first-ever day-night Test at MCG. It’s going to be a special occasion as we honour the 90th anniversary of the first women’s Test series under lights at this iconic venue,” said Alyssa Healy.

“We are preparing for a big summer including the ICC T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, white ball series at home against New Zealand and India culminating with the multi-format Ashes series. We hope the Australian fans get behind us as we take on some tough rivals this summer.”

CEO of Cricket Australia (CA) Nick Hockley also called it a historic occasion, while also praising the national women’s team.

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“It’s amazing to think that in just six months our brilliant Australian Women’s team will light up the MCG for the historic first day-night Test at the world-renowned venue,” said Nick Hockley.

“The Women’s Ashes will not only be a great sporting event between fierce rivals, it will add to the list of iconic sporting events held in Melbourne and I’m grateful to the Victorian Government and the Melbourne Cricket Club for their strong support.

“Our women’s team is one of the most successful in sporting history and this series promises to be a landmark occasion for Australian sport.”

“The MCG hosted the first-ever international Test Match in 1877, the first-ever One-Day International match in 1971 and saw over 86,000 for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Final between Australia and India in 2020,” said Melbourne Cricket Club, manager of the MCG, CEO Stuart Fox.

“Now we have the opportunity to host our first-ever day-night Test which is sure to become another important moment in the MCG’s storied history.

“It is extremely special that this milestone falls with a Women’s Ashes Test, a series beloved at the MCG, and while marking the 90th anniversary of hosting our first Women’s Test.”

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India women register first-ever Test victory over Australia

India’s women’s cricket team cruised to their first-ever win against Australia in Test cricket on Sunday, beating the visitors by eight wickets in a one-off match in Mumbai.

India dominated play in the four-day match at the Wankhede Stadium, smashing 406 runs in the first innings to take a 187-run lead.

On the final day, Australia knocked out 261, with India’s bowlers earning five wickets for just 28 runs, including right arm off-break Sneh Rana — later awarded player of the match — taking two wickets in two balls.

Set a target of 75, India’s skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s team chased down the runs in dramatic play in just under 19 overs for two wickets.

For India’s women, it was their first Test victory against Australia after 11 attempts since 1977.

It follows India’s victory against England last week, also in Mumbai.

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Jay Shah, the Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary, celebrated the back-to-back Test wins.

“They conquered it with brilliance,” Shah posted on social media, praising skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. “History made today!”

India on December 16 thrashed England by 347 runs in another one-off women’s Test, their first-ever win at home against the rivals.

India’s victory margin against England was the largest by runs in women’s Test cricket and also their first Test win against England at home.

“Everything went very well for us,” Kaur told reporters on Sunday.

“Hopefully after these two wins we will get many more Test games in upcoming games.”

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