Sophie Molineux says the injuries that took years out of her career are the reason she values what she holds now. Australia’s all-format captain spoke to Cricinfo on 27 September, two days before the WNCL season opens.
“I suppose the injuries have taken up a large chunk of the last few years for me, but the lessons that you learn from going through it just makes me really grateful to be sitting here today with some pretty special memories under my belt.”
Sophie Molineux, speaking to Cricinfo, 27 September 2026
She says it as a T20 World Cup winner. Australia went unbeaten through the tournament in England and beat England by seven wickets in the final at Lord’s.
What the rehab room took from her is well documented. What it gave her is less obvious, and it shows up in the way she captains.
Australia skipper Sophie Molineux on an injury-hit few years, and the special moments that made it all worthwhile 💛
Read the full piece: https://t.co/y9tvlv6s3s pic.twitter.com/v2tXwmobFU
— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) September 28, 2026
Every Major Injury in Sophie Molineux’s Career
Since 2019, injuries have cost Molineux two World Cups, an Ashes series, a Commonwealth Games and her Cricket Australia contract.
| When | Injury | What she missed |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Dislocated right shoulder, needed surgery | Series against New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka |
| 2021-22 | Stress fracture in foot, eight months out | 2022 Ashes, 2022 ODI World Cup, Commonwealth Games, CA contract |
| November 2022 | Ruptured left ACL while bowling in the Melbourne derby | 2023 T20 World Cup |
| Late 2024 | Knee surgery | WPL 2025 and most of 2025 |
| February 2026 | Lower back pain | Rest of the India series, bowling in the West Indies |
The last one nearly derailed her captaincy before it started. Molineux was named Alyssa Healy’s successor on 29 January 2026. Within a month, back pain after the first ODI against India in Brisbane ruled her out of the rest of the series.
The pain only stopped her bowling, so she toured the West Indies as a batter-captain. At the World Cup a few months later, she finished as Australia’s leading wicket-taker with 11 wickets in seven matches.
Insider Read
A long rehab takes the game out of your hands. Physios set your loads, doctors set your dates, and teammates play the matches you were picked for. You either learn to trust other people with your career, or you wear yourself out fighting it.
Molineux captains like someone who learned that lesson. She leans on teammates for advice even when it costs her, as it did when Phoebe Litchfield backed her to bowl the final over against India at Lord’s and she went for 23. Captains who have never been broken tend to grip every decision. Those who spent years watching from the sidelines know a team runs better when control is shared.
Molineux is expected to play for Victoria in the WNCL opening round on 29 September. Australia’s home summer starts with three ODIs against Bangladesh from 9 October.
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