Molineux Ruled Out of ODI Series Against India Due to Back Injury

February 27, 2026

Hobart: Left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux has been ruled out of the remainder of the multi-format series against India after experiencing lower back pain, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Friday.

“Sophie Molineux has experienced some lower back pain and will not be available for the remainder of the series. She will continue to be monitored ahead of the upcoming tour to the West Indies,” CA said in a statement shortly after the second ODI toss at Bellerive Oval.

Nicola Carey Replaces Molineux

In place of Sophie, seam-bowling all-rounder Nicola Carey gets an opportunity to play in front of her home crowd for her 24th ODI. She last featured in an ODI during Australia’s triumphant 2022 ODI World Cup campaign in New Zealand, playing against Pakistan in Mount Maunganui.

Leadership Plans and Injury Concerns

Sophie is due to lead Australia across formats once Alyssa Healy retires from international cricket at the end of the series against India. She had captained the side in the T20I series, where Australia won the second match but lost the first and third games.

Despite being injury-prone, selectors backed her cricketing intelligence and leadership skills. However, this lower back issue is the latest setback in a series of injuries over the past four years, including a stress fracture in her foot that ruled her out of the 2022 Ashes, ODI World Cup and Commonwealth Games, followed by a ruptured ACL later that year.

Australia’s Growing Injury List

Sophie returned to the national side in early 2024 but suffered another knee injury in December, sidelining her for most of 2025. Even at last year’s ODI World Cup, she featured in only four of Australia’s seven matches due to knee management.

She now joins Ellyse Perry and Kim Garth on Australia’s growing injury list.

“The Sophie Molineux news today was a bit of a shock for everyone and a disappointing one for her. Hopefully we can rally around those three and give them the love they need moving forward,” said Alyssa, adding that decisions on Ellyse and Kim’s quad injuries would be made early next week.

Former Australia batter Mel Jones said on Fox Cricket that the development raised fresh concerns about Sophie’s durability as captain.

“It’s not just a big out in the sense of her as a player (in this series), but it was the question around Sophie Molineux and the captaincy of Australia.
Most people thought ‘fantastic’ in terms of the culture build, she’s got an amazing cricket brain, but the big question was she’s been in and out of the team for so long because of the injuries, can she remain fit to stay in the team? That’s the biggest concern now for the Australian team and management.”