Molineux to make return from injury in ODI World Cup

Sophie Molineux is on track to be fit for the ODI World Cup after being included in Australia's 15-player squad for the tournament in India and Sri Lanka while legspinner Georgia Wareham has recovered from the injury which forced her to leave the Hundred early.

The duo are a key part of Australia's spin attack which will be a vital component at the World Cup as they look to defend the title won in New Zealand in 2022. Molineux, the left-arm spinner, has been out of action since late last year when she underwent knee surgery. However, she has not quite been given the full green light and may miss the ODI series against India ahead of the tournament.

"Sophie Molineux is progressing well in her return from a knee injury, and we anticipate she'll be available for the World Cup," Australia physio Kate Beerworth said. "Georgia Wareham also back to full training following her adductor injury during the Hundred."

Australia's squad, which will be led by Alyssa Healy, does not hold any surprises with Grace Harris taking the final batting spot while Georgia Voll is included after her breakout first year in international cricket.

Harris has only played two ODIs since 2016 - and didn't bat in either match - but the selectors see her as adding depth to the middle-order and also value her experience.

"She's a different player for us," Shawn Flegler, the national selector, said. "In the role that she might play in ODI cricket, I think it would be more down the bottom and middle order. The way she bats, the experience she's got in India, that's probably why she got selected.

"She's a little bit different to some other middle order batters. She can take a game away in a few overs. If she gets that opportunity, I think she could be really good."

Healy recently returned from the foot injury she sustained during last year's Ashes and flayed 137 not out off 85 balls against India A last month. The hope is that she will be able to keep wicket throughout the tournament.

"She knows her body well," Flegler said. "Like all players, they need to recover well after games. The schedule is pretty tight. But I think our particular schedule, we've got breaks in between each game as well. There's lots of travel involved...it's a long tournament. So it's not just Alyssa who'll be looking after herself. It'll be the whole squad."

Voll is one of five players - alongside Molineux, Wareham, Phoebe Litchfield and Kim Garth - to be included in their first 50-over World Cup squad.

One of the challenges in preparing for the tournament has been some grounds have never hosted women's cricket while Australia have not played at the R Premadasa in Colombo, where they will face Sri Lanka and Pakistan, since 2016. They have used the men's set-up to help gather data with coach Shelley Nitschke having spoken with Tom Body, the men's team analyst.

"It's a little bit of an unknown," Flegler said. "There's some grounds that no women's cricket's been played at, so even just the data analysis of that has been based on the men's cricket.

"But we're comfortable with the squad that we've got that we can cover, whether it's a spinning wicket or if they're flat wickets or if there's a little bit of pace. All the games are starting at three o'clock, so day and night games. There's maybe a bit of monsoon weather still hanging around in some places as well. So we've just got to be adaptable."

Australia's squad will be supplemented with the uncapped duo of Nicole Faltum and Charli Knott for the three-match ODI series before the pair return home for the start of the WNCL season.

"A World Cup in India is one of cricket's biggest assignments, but we believe this group is up for the challenge," Flegler said. "The valuable experience the squad has gained from several subcontinent tours in recent years, as well as exposure through the Women's Premier League will be beneficial in tackling the unique demands of Indian conditions.

"The extended nature of an ODI World Cup can be a challenge, and we believe this group has the depth and versatility to meet those demands."

Australia begin their tournament against New Zealand in Indore on October 1.

Alyssa Healy (capt), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham