Healy, Gardner, McGrath: who could be Australia's next captain?
If the decision needs to be made, it could come down to how short or long term the selectors want to look at
Ash Gardner would be a long-term option as Australia captain • ICC via Getty Images
Healy may be one of the next players of this great Australian team to bring an end to her career, but she would perhaps be a shorter-term option to take the captaincy if there was a thought that Lanning could return or if the selectors just want to get through the T20 World Cup and the Ashes next year.
A fulcrum of the batting across all three formats, Mooney is a senior player, and at 28, should have a significant number of years left in her international career. When she was just 20, Mooney captained Queensland to the T20 Cup title - the precursor to the WBBL - in 2014.
It very much feels like Gardner is a captain in the making; it might just be a question of whether this cycle - if it emerges - comes at the right time for the 25-year-old. Her leadership credentials already stand out - particularly her role in promoting Indigenous culture and history. As a 20-year-old, Gardner captained the Aboriginal squad to England to mark the 150th anniversary of 1868 tour.
After a stunning return to international cricket where she has become one of the leading players in the world, McGrath shapes as another long-term option for the captaincy. She is a key player across all formats, and captains Adelaide Strikers in the WBBL. Like a few in the current Australia set-up, she has worked with Belinda Clark, the former Australia captain, on leadership.
Another senior player in the current set-up, Jonassen is someone Lanning has leant heavily on on the field over the years, and is known to have a calm presence under pressure. Having taken over from Short, Jonassen currently captains Queensland and Brisbane Heat, and has previously cited the composure of her former team-mate.
Could there be two fast-bowling captains in the Australian game? Schutt was named captain of South Australia as a 25-year-old and has continued to do the role when available. She is a key part of Australia's ODI and T20I sides but was left out of last year's Ashes Test, though the selectors said that was with an eye on the World Cup.
Molineux is not currently in the Australia team, having picked up an injury last season before losing her central contract in April, but the 24-year-old is highly regarded as a developing leader. She led Melbourne Renegades to their first WBBL final last season and took over the Victoria captaincy when Lanning stepped down earlier this year. Like McGrath, she has worked closely with Clark.
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo