Aus women v Ban women and NZ women 2026-27 – Molineux monitored, Hamilton out of ODIs, Brown out with back injury

Australia women’s skipper Sophie Molineux has been named in a 14-player squad to face Bangladesh and New Zealand but her availability remains in doubt due to a hip injury, while Lucy Hamilton has been ruled out of the ODIs against Bangladesh due to a mild quad strain.

Darcie Brown is unavailable for both series due to a back injury she suffered during the Australia A tour of India with her availability for the WBBL still to be determined. Grace Harris, who was part of the T20 World Cup winning squad, has been left out of the squad for both series.

Molineux and Hamilton have been named in the combined squad for three home ODIs against Bangladesh on October 9-14 in Brisbane and three home T20Is against New Zealand on October 18-22 in Sydney.

Molineux is set to be monitored ahead of the series with her availability remaining unclear according to national selector Shawn Flegler.

“Sophie has been named in the squad but has been managing a hip injury, so her involvement in the series will continue to be assessed over the coming days,” Flegler said.

Should Molineux be unavailable, a decision will need to be made on who captains Australia with both vice-captains Tahlia McGrath and Ash Gardner named in the squad. Gardner has not led the team in any format since her appointment as vice-captain and she needed endorsement from the Cricket Australia board to remain in the role following public revelations of her relationship with team-mate Georgia Voll who has also been named in the squad.

Hamilton suffered a minor quad strain at training but Flegler said the left-armer should be fit for the T20 series against New Zealand. If Molineux is not fit for the Bangladesh ODIs, Australia will only have 12 players to choose from for the three-match series that will be played in the space of six days at Allan Border Field.

Flegler added that Harris’ omission was unfortunate.

“With the T20 squad reduced in size and limited opportunities during the World Cup, Grace is unlucky to miss out on selection but remains in the frame moving forward,” Flegler said.

Australia squad vs Bangladesh and New Zealand

Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton (T20I only), Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux (c), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham

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