Blow for Aussies with Molineux ruled out of Ashes

Australia's spin stocks have been dealt a second major blow ahead of the Ashes, with allrounder Sophie Molineux ruled out of the multi-format series after suffering a stress fracture to her right foot.

The left-arm spinner was revealed to be carrying a foot injury when she did not bat for Melbourne Renegades during the recent WBBL|07 Challenger final in Adelaide, but the extent of the ailment has only just been confirmed.

However Australia medical staff are hopeful the 23-year-old can recover in time for the ODI World Cup in New Zealand beginning March 5.

"Sophie sustained a stress fracture to her right foot during the last week of the WBBL," Australia team doctor Pip Inge said.

"She is currently offloading in a moon boot and a return to play plan has been developed in conjunction with Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia medical staff.

"Sophie's focus now shifts to her rehabilitation plan which means she'll be unavailable for any upcoming domestic matches as well as the Ashes in January.

"At this stage we are aiming to have Sophie available for the ICC Women’s World Cup in New Zealand in March."

Molineux's injury is a further blow to Australia's spin stocks after leg-spinner Georgia Wareham ruptured her ACL while playing for the Renegades early in WBBL|07.

Wareham faces a long road to recovery and has already been ruled out of both the upcoming multi-format series against England, the World Cup and 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next July.

Molineux's next engagement would have been a Women's National Cricket League match for Victoria against ACT Meteors in Melbourne on December 16, one of four domestic 50-over games the state will play before the start of the multi-format Ashes on January 27.

Australia will depart for the World Cup in New Zealand shortly after the final Ashes T20I in Melbourne on February 19. 

It is not the Victorian's first brush with injury; she dislocated her right shoulder at the end of the 2018-19 domestic season and missed the ODI leg of the 2019 Ashes in England, but returned in time to make a major impression on Test debut, snaring four wickets. 

Molineux was a standout with the ball in Australia’s last international series against India, in what was her return to the national side after carrying the drinks against New Zealand earlier in the year.

Her opportunity came after fellow left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen was ruled out with a shin injury; Heat captain Jonassen returned for the start of the WBBL|07 season and captured 21 wickets to sit at the top of the tally until she was overtaken by Strikers leggie Amanda-Jade Wellington on Thursday evening. 

The form of Jonassen, Wellington and Scorchers leg-spinner Alana King will at least give Australia selectors heart that they have depth to call upon ahead of the Ashes.

Molineux captained the Renegades in their nine-wicket Challenger final defeat to Adelaide Strikers in late November, but she did not bat in her side's innings of 8-83 and coach Simon Helmot revealed on air the spinner had been in a moon boot in the days leading up to the match due to a 'sore foot'.

She later bowled two overs, going for 22 runs, and remained on the field for the rest of the fielding innings as the Strikers reached their target in 10.5 overs.

"She's been in the moon boot for most of the week, she's got a sore foot," Helmot said on Channel Seven.

"We were desperate for her to play, she really wanted her to play, we were hoping we weren't going to require her (to bat) tonight … she's been an unbelievable leader and she's been one of the main reasons we've featured in finals this season." 

Molineux had been batting in the middle-order for much of the season, but eyebrows were raised when, as the Renegades wickets tumbled, tailenders Ella Hayward and Holly Ferling headed out to the middle ahead of their skipper.

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes v England

Jan 27-30: Test match, Manuka Oval

Feb 4: First T20, North Sydney Oval

Feb 6: Second T20, North Sydney Oval

Feb 10: Third T20, Adelaide Oval

Feb 13: First ODI, Adelaide Oval

Feb 16: Second ODI, Junction Oval

Feb 19: Third ODI, Junction Oval