Sophie Molineux ruled out of Ashes through injury

The Australian allrounder is the second big name to be ruled out of the multi-format series, with spinner Georgia Wareham suffering a serious ACL injury early on in the Women's Big Bash

Sophie Molineux has been ruled out of the 2021-22 Ashes series after sustaining a stress fracture in her foot while representing Melbourne Renegades in the Women’s Big Bash.

The 23-year-old allrounder has made 38 appearances for Australia across all formats since making her debut in March 2018, taking seven Test wickets, 17 ODI wickets and 26 T20I wickets.

She was ever-present during the national side’s recent multi-format series against India, picking up 11 wickets in seven appearances and finishing among Australia’s top-two most economical bowlers in all three formats.

Molineux is the second big name to be ruled out of the Ashes following the withdrawal of her Melbourne Renegades teammate Georgia Wareham.

Spinner Wareham suffered a serious ACL injury in just the second match of her side’s WBBL campaign and is also in doubt for the Women’s World Cup in the spring.

^{Georgia Wareham has also been ruled out of the Ashes after sustaining a serious ACL injury during the WBBL [Chris Hyde/Getty Images]}

Commenting on Molineux’s injury, Australia's team doctor, Pip Inge, said: "Sophie sustained a stress fracture to her right foot during the last week of the WBBL.

"She is currently offloading in a moon boot and a return to play plan has been developed in conjunction with Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia medical staff.

"Sophie's focus now shifts to her rehabilitation plan which means she'll be unavailable for any upcoming domestic matches as well as the Ashes in January.

"At this stage we are aiming to have Sophie available for the ICC Women’s World Cup in New Zealand in March."

The 2021-22 Ashes series is scheduled to begin on January 27 with a one-off Test in Canberra followed by three T20Is and three ODIs.