Victorian allrounder becomes Australia's 48th T20I player as visitors bowl first in first game of tri-series
Molineux makes debut in T20 series opener
Allrounder Sophie Molineux will make her international debut, while Australia are bowling first after Meg Lanning won the toss ahead of the opening match of the T20I tri-series against India in Mumbai.
FOLLOW LIVE: First T20I, India v Australia
Molineux was presented with T20I cap No.48 before the toss, with the match to be Molineux’s first in the green and gold in any format.
Congratulations to Sophie Molineux, who has just been presented with T20I cap #48! 👏👏👏 #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/YUwvm7teGX%E2%80%94 Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@SouthernStars) March 22, 2018
The tourists have made two changes to the most recent 20-over XI they fielded during last November’s Ashes, with Molineux and captain Lanning – who missed the Ashes T20Is as she recovered from shoulder surgery – the inclusions to the Australian line-up.
Australia have added Lanning to the top five batters they fielded during the Ashes – Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Elyse Villani, Ellyse Perry and Rachael Haynes, with leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington and off-spinner Molly Stano – who isn’t part of the touring group – the omissions.
Victoria and Renegades allrounder Molineux earned her first call-up to an Australian squad for the Commonwealth Bank Tour of India after an outstanding Big Bash campaign that saw her claim the Rebel Young Gun Award.
Australia have won the toss and will bowl first! #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/g4fiQp5A2T%E2%80%94 Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@SouthernStars) March 22, 2018
Her debut is the latest step in what’s been a rapid rise for the 20-year-old from Bairnsdale in eastern Victoria.
She’s already represented Australia A and taken on England in Ashes tour matches and was last year named in Cricket Australia's inaugural Women's National Performance Squad.
While she opened for the Renegades in WBBL|03, she slots in further down the order in the star-studded Australia line-up, who are seeking a series whitewash.
Australia XI: Meg Lanning (c), Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Elyse Villani, Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Sophie Molineux, Delissa Kimmince, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt #INDvAUS%E2%80%94 Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@SouthernStars) March 22, 2018
India XI: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Mithali Raj, Veda Krishnamurthy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Anuja Patil, Deepti Sharma, Tainya Bhatia, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Jhulan Goswami #INDvAUS%E2%80%94 Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@SouthernStars) March 22, 2018
Ahead of Thursday’s match, Lanning described the tri-series as “massive” for Australia with a World T20 tournament less than eight months away.
Following the end of the Commonwealth Bank Tour of India, Australia have a six-month break until their next engagement in late September, making this series crucial to their planning for the 20-over tournament.
“This is a massive series for us, coming up against two really good teams in these conditions as well,” Lanning said on Wednesday.
“We know we don’t have a lot of cricket between now and the World Cup, so we’re keen really to make sure we go well in this series and we’re going to be really tested which is great.”
The opening T20I will get underway at 10am local time on Thursday (3.30pm AEDT). Cricket.com.au will provide news, scores, highlights and behind-the-scenes coverage from on the ground in India, while Fox Sports will broadcast the T20I tri-series live.