Sophie Molineux named Melbourne Renegades captain

Allrounder Sophie Molineux has been named the new captain of Melbourne Renegades as the club looks to bounce back from a difficult 2020-21 WBBL where they finished seventh.

Molineux's appointment, to replace New Zealand's Amy Satterthwaite, means a new captain-coach combination for the Renegades with Simon Helmot having replaced Lachlan Stevens.

Last season Molineux scored 221 runs and took 11 wickets as the team secured four wins in 14 matches during the tournament that was played entirely in a Sydney-based hub.

"It's a real honour to be appointed captain of a club I love so much and follow in the footsteps of some high-quality leaders that I look up to," Molineux said.

"Amy Satterthwaite has had a massive influence on the group and on me personally. Her wealth of knowledge and ability to stay composed is what I've always admired. Jess Duffin is such a competitor and leads by example and I've also had the privilege of playing under Meg Lanning in the Victorian and Australian teams.

"I am really excited to be able to take what I've learnt from each of them, combine it with how I approach the game and continue to grow and learn along the way."

Molineux is a regular part of Australia squads with 24 T20I caps under her belt alongside six ODIs and one Tests although did not make the side during the tour of New Zealand earlier this year.

"Sophie has fantastic relationships within the squad. She's tactically astute, trusted and highly respected across the playing group," Helmot said. "She's had an excellent apprenticeship working under some great captains, including Amy who has helped nurture so much of our young talent.

"That grounding under such leadership will have Sophie well prepared, we're excited to see this next phase in her career and we'll support her along the way. We look forward to the start of a sustained period of success for the club under Sophie's leadership."