Hobart, February 27 – Left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux has been ruled out of the remaining matches in the multi-format series against India due to lower back pain, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Friday.
"Sophie Molineux has experienced some lower back pain and will not be available for the remainder of the series. She will continue to be monitored ahead of the upcoming tour to the West Indies," CA said in a statement shortly after the second ODI toss happened at the Bellerive Oval on Friday.
Nicola Carey, a seam-bowling all-rounder, will step in for Sophie in her 24th ODI game, playing in front of her home crowd. She last played in an ODI during the triumphant 2022 ODI World Cup in New Zealand, where she played against Pakistan in Mount Maunganui.
Sophie is expected to lead Australia across formats once Alyssa Healy retires from international cricket at the end of the series against India. She had captained the side in the T20I series, where Australia won the second game while losing the first and third matches.
Despite being prone to injuries, Australian selectors have backed Sophie's cricketing skills and leadership abilities. However, the lower back injury comes as a setback for Sophie after enduring repeated injury struggles over the past four years, including a stress fracture in her foot that ruled her out of the 2022 Ashes, ODI World Cup, and Commonwealth Games, followed by a ruptured ACL later that year.
She returned to the national side in early 2024 but suffered another knee injury in December, sidelining her for most of 2025. Even at last year’s ODI World Cup, she featured in only four of Australia’s seven matches due to ongoing management of her knee. As of now, Sophie joins Ellyse Perry and Kim Garth on Australia’s growing injury list.
"The news about Sophie Molineux today was a bit of a shock for everyone, and a disappointing one for her. Hopefully, we can rally around these three and give them the support they need," said Alyssa, who added that decisions on Ellyse and Kim's quad injuries would be made early next week.
Former Australian batter Mel Jones said on Fox Cricket broadcast that the development raised fresh questions about Sophie's durability as captain. "It's not just a big out in terms of her as a player (in this series), but it was the question around Sophie Molineux and the captaincy of Australia.
"Most people thought 'fantastic' in terms of the culture build, she's got an amazing cricket brain, but the big question was she’s been in and out of the team for so long because of the injuries, can she remain fit to stay in the team? That’s the biggest concern now for the Australian team and management."
