Former RCB all-rounder Sophie Molineux has been named the new captain of the Australian women’s cricket team, taking over from Alyssa Healy in all three formats.

The 28-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder will first lead the T20 team when Australia hosts India in an all-format series next month. She will then become captain of the ODI and Test teams during Australia’s tour of the Caribbean in March. Tahlia McGrath will continue as vice-captain. Ashleigh Gardner has also been promoted and will serve as joint vice-captain with McGrath.

Alyssa Healy recently spoke openly about her decision to retire from cricket. She said she had slowly stopped enjoying the game the way she once did. She also felt that age and injuries were catching up with her.

Healy said the last few years were more tiring for her mind than her body. She shared that injuries made it harder to stay motivated. She explained that her energy and passion were not as strong as before. 

“I have always loved competing and winning,” Healy said on Willow Talk. “But as I got older, I felt like I lost some of that edge.”

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Selectors Make Tough Choices and Name New Captain

Selectors made some tough choices for the squads. Alana King was left out of the T20I team. Megan Schutt, Grace Harris, and Heather Graham were not picked for the ODI squad.

Many people expected Tahlia McGrath or Ashleigh Gardner to replace Alyssa Healy as captain. Both players had led the team before. However, Sophie Molineux was chosen instead. Molineux will become Australia’s ninth T20I captain when the first match is played at the SCG on February 15.

“It is a great honour to be named captain of Australia,” Molineux said. “I am very proud to follow Alyssa, who has had a big impact on this team and the game.” She added that the team has strong leaders and young talent, and she is excited to keep pushing the team forward.

Australia to Face India in All-Format Series

From February 15 to March 9, Australia will play India in an all-format series. The series will include three T20I matches, three ODI matches, and one Test match. The Test will be played after the T20I and ODI series.

For this home series, Cricket Australia announced squads for all formats. Alyssa Healy will captain the ODI and Test teams. Sophie Molineux will act as her deputy in both formats.

Nicola Carey returns to the white-ball squads after time away. Young fast bowler Lucy Hamilton, aged 19, could make her Test debut against India. Phoebe Litchfield has been named in all three squads, even though she was ruled out of the rest of the Women’s Premier League due to a quad injury.

Australia Squads for India Series

T20I squad:
Sophie Molineux (c), Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.

ODI squad:
Alyssa Healy (c), Sophie Molineux (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.

Test squad:
Alyssa Healy (c), Sophie Molineux (vc), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.

Australiahas announced its 15-member squads for the ODI, T20I, and Test series against the touring Indian side, as Sophie Molineux has been named as the full-time successor to Alyssa Healy for the all-format captaincy and will lead for the first time in the T20I portion of the upcoming multi-format home series against India. She has elevated the all-format vice-captain, Tahila McGrath, while Asleigh Gardner has been named vice-captain. 

Sophie Molineux, the 28-year-old spinner, is a left-field choice, having not played either T20I or Test cricket since 2024 due to her latest knee injury, and was managed through last year’s ODI World Cup. She also didn’t participate in the WBBL for the Melbourne Renegades.

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“It's a real honour to be named Australian captain and something I'm incredibly proud of, especially following on from Alyssa, who's had such a huge impact on this team and the game. We've got a really strong group with plenty of natural leaders, alongside a lot of exciting talent coming through, and I'm really looking forward to working together as we keep evolving.” Molineux expressed.

Australia name squads for Tests, ODIs, and T20I series against India

Molineux will take charge of all three formats on the multi-format tour of the Australia side in the Caribbean, which includes Tests, before preparing for the T20 World Cup 2026 in England in June. National selector Shawn Fleglar addressed the spinner as the right choice for the position.

“We will continue to manage Sophie's workload, prioritizing key tournaments and major international series following injury challenges in recent seasons. Tahlia McGrath remains vice-captain, recognizing her significant leadership contribution under Alyssa Healy. Tahlia has acted as stand-in captain on 16 occasions across formats, providing consistency and stability.” Flegler said.

Australia’s squad for three formats against India 

T20I squad:

Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux (captain), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham

ODI squad:

Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Alyssa Healy (captain), Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham

Test squad:

Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alyssa Healy (captain), Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham

Cricket Australia (CA) is set to declare a new captain for the upcoming women’s national side across all three formats following the retirement of Alyssa Healy. The reports claimed that the former all-rounder of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) from the Women’s Premier League (WPL), Sophie Molineux, is expected to be named their all-format captain. 

Healy confirmed that she will retire from international cricket, with the home series against India in February-March, which will be Healy’s final assignment. The wicket-keeper batter also decided not to feature in the T2I0Is, as the team will need time to shape a new leader ahead of the T20 World Cup later in 2026.

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It was a surprising factor as many thought that perhaps Tahila McGrath would be chosen as the new captain of the national side. He has leadership experience, having captained the Melbourne Renegades since the 2021 season. Under her, the team reached the finals of the 2024/25 edition of the tournament.

Sophie Molineux set to become new Australia women's captain 

Sophie has picked up overall 41 wickets in 38 innings of the shortest format at an average of 18.68, a strike rate of 19.3, and an economy rate of under six, thanks to the best bowling figures of 4/16 in an innings. She has been part of 17 ODIs where she picked up 31 wickets at an average of 17 and a strike rate of 26.1 and an economy rate of 3.89, thanks to the best figures of 4/14.

In the last and only season of the WPL for the Bengaluru franchise, Molineux has collected 12 wickets in 10 innings at an average of 23.16 and a strike rate of 19 and an economy rate of 7.31, thanks to the best figures of 3/20 in an innings.

“It's been a long time coming. The last few years have probably more mentally draining than anything else. A few injuries. I've got to dive into the well, and the well is getting less and less full of water. Getting harder to dive back in there. I've always felt like I've had a competitive edge in that I want to compete, I want to win, and I want to challenge myself on the park.” Healy addressed.

Alyssa Healy has made a surprise announcement that she will retire from all forms of cricket after Australia’s home series against India in February–March 2026.

Healy will play in the three ODIs and the one-off Test at the WACA before ending her brilliant 16-year international career. During this period, she won six T20 World Cups and two ODI World Cups with Australia.

Healy will not take part in the T20I matches, as she will also miss the T20 World Cup. Speaking on the Willow Talk podcast, Healy said, “It’s been a long time coming. The last few years have been more mentally draining than anything else. I have had a few injuries, and it has become harder to push myself the way I used to.”

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She added that while she still wants to compete and win, she feels that some of her competitive edge has faded with age. With Healy stepping down and the T20 World Cup approaching, Australia will now begin looking at options to replace her as captain.

Here are five players who could replace Alyssa Healy as the next Australian captain.

1. Ashleigh Gardner

Star all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner is a strong option to replace Alyssa Healy as Australia’s next captain. She currently leads the Sydney Sixers in the WBBL and the Gujarat Giants in the WPL.

Sixers coach Matthew Mott has spoken highly of her leadership and said she could “become one of the best leaders ever produced in Australian cricket.”

2. Ellyse Perry

Legendary all-rounder Ellyse Perry is another strong candidate. Although she has never captained Australia, Perry has plenty of leadership experience in the WBBL, where she has led teams in 150 matches.

3. Phoebe Litchfield

Young star Phoebe Litchfield is a long-term captaincy option for Australia. At just 22 years old, she could lead the team for many years. She is a talented batter and is seen as one of the future stars of Australian cricket.

While some may feel she is too young, it is worth noting that Meg Lanning became Australia captain in 2014 when she was not even 22.

4. Tahlia McGrath

Star all-rounder Tahlia McGrath is another option. She has been Australia’s vice-captain since 2023. However, her recent form may work against her. In the ongoing WBBL, McGrath has averaged 14 and has taken only five wickets in 10 matches.

5. Beth Mooney

Beth Mooney is another possible captaincy choice. The wicketkeeper-batter is known for performing well in big matches, especially in World Cup knockout games.

However, she has limited captaincy experience. So far, she has led teams in only 22 T20 matches in her career.

Alyssa Healy, the Australia captain and one of the most successful players of all-time with eight World Cup titles, will retire from the all-format home series against India in February-March 2026. She was named as the full-time successor of Meg Lenning in late 2023 and won’t feature in the T20I leg of the India series to help the team build towards the T20 World Cup later in the year. 

Healy will play the ODIs for Australiabefore finishing her career with an 11th Test cap in the day-night encounter at the WACA from March 6-9. There were thoughts of her calling time on her career, but the sudden nature of the decision was surprising. However, it was a forced decision due to not playing in the T20 World Cup 2026 in England.

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“It's been a long time coming. The last few years have probably more mentally draining than anything else. A few injuries. I've got to dive into the well, and the well is getting less and less full of water. Getting harder to dive back in there. 've always felt like I've had a competitive edge in that I want to compete, I want to win, and I want to challenge myself on the park.” Healy said on Willow Talk.

Alyssa Healy’s retirement edit goes viral

Healy currently has drilled 3054 runs in 143 innings of the Women’s T20Is at an average of 25.45 and a strike rate of 129.79, thanks to her one century and 17 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 148runs. In the longest format, she claimed 489 runs in 16 innings at 30.56 with three half-centuries.

Watch the video here: 

Nobody did it like Alyssa Healy ❤️🥹 pic.twitter.com/wwvtxhIX6f

— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) January 13, 2026

“There might be a little bit of change within that series [against India] leading into the World Cup, and some leadership stuff. But for me, the opportunity to play at home, still captain the team in that series is going to be really special.” She addressed.

“I never wanted to announce it, wanted to get to the end of the Test match [against India, starting March 6 in Perth], but with me not going into the T20 World Cup, it's forced a little bit of change. Not a lot of T20 cricket leading into that for the girls, so it's probably the place for me to decide on that format.” Healy concluded.

On this day (November 21, 2017), the women's team of Australia retained their title through a multiple-format Ashes series. The day-night test at the North Sydney Oval remained drawn, while the Aussies emerged as the winner in two ODIs and one T20I match.

In the Test match, which ended in a draw, Ellyse Perry turned her maiden Test century into a double hundred. During the three-match T20I series, it was opener Beth Mooney who turned most of the limelight on her as she scored 220 runs from three matches.

In the third T20I in Canberra, which was the final match of the series as well, Mooney registered 117 not out against 70 balls. In reply, England Women's team star Danni Wyatt played a match-winning knock (100 off 57). It was the first ton by an English batter in Women's T20. With the two hundreds, a hundred each from both teams, resulted in a high-scoring encounter, which was also a record for women's T20Is.

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England fought well but Australia took the title home

Despite England's heroic performance in the 3rd T20I, Australia won the contest, as they won the previous two matches in a row. Despite driving over some rough patches, Australia crossed the finish line safely and claimed the title, which matters the most.

After the match, Rachael Haynes, captain of the Australian women's team, said, "It's a huge privilege to be asked to captain the country; I have been well-supported by the team. We've had a couple of hiccups, but there have been plenty of positives as a group. Irrespective of what happens today, some exciting times."

Australia’s golden run in women’s cricket came to a halt on Thursday night as the defending champions were knocked out of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 following a heartbreaking five-wicket defeat to India in the semifinal at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

Batting first, Australia looked set for another commanding total when they reached 220 for 2 in the 34th over, thanks to Phoebe Litchfield’s sublime 119 and Ellyse Perry’s 77. However, a late collapse saw them bowled out for 338 in 49.5 overs, around 20 runs short of what they might have hoped for.

India, led by Jemimah Rodrigues’ unbeaten 127 and Harmanpreet Kaur’s 89, produced a stunning chase, the highest successful pursuit in women’s ODI history, to dethrone the seven-time champions and book a place in Sunday’s final against South Africa.

Speaking after the loss, Australian captain Alyssa Healy was candid in her assessment, admitting her side had only themselves to blame for failing to defend the total. “Good contest in the end. Probably reflecting on that, we did that to ourselves a little bit. It’s probably the first time I’ve felt like we’ve done that,” Healy said. “We didn’t finish off with the bat, didn’t bowl that great, and dropped our chances in the field, and still hung in there until the second last over. So, we can take something from that, but ultimately, we were outdone in the end.”

Healy praises Litchfield and Gardner, admits Australia fell short in key moments

Australia’s usually sharp fielding deserted them at crucial moments, with three dropped catches, including two off Jemimah Rodrigues, proving costly. “I think we created enough chances and pressure, but just weren’t able to capitalise. I’m at fault for that as well, and that’s something Australia really prides itself on. We kind of let ourselves down in that regard,” Healy said.

The defeat carried echoes of Australia’s T20 World Cup semifinal loss to South Africa in 2024, something Healy herself acknowledged. “It felt a little bit similar to this time last year, going out not playing the way we wanted to. We’ll learn from that, we’ll grow, and hopefully, our one-day cricket will improve since.”

Despite the disappointment, Healy was proud of her team’s overall campaign and the consistency they displayed through the tournament. “I think we’ve played some unbelievable cricket. Semi-finals are knockout games, if you don’t turn up on that evening, anyone can get you. Every single player contributed at some point, and that’s what makes it sting a little bit more.”

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The 35-year-old also praised the next generation of Australian talent, particularly Phoebe Litchfield, whose classy century at the top of the order stood out in the semifinal. “Phoebe was sensational today, set us off really nicely and went on to make a hundred, which was crucial. It’s been fun to watch her unfold, and the next four years leading into the next ODI World Cup are going to be really exciting.”

Healy also highlighted Ash Gardner’s emergence as a finisher in the middle order, crediting her for “completely owning that No.6, No.7 role” during the tournament.

Healy confirms final ODI World Cup appearance, leaves behind a golden legacy in Australian cricket

In a poignant moment, Healy confirmed that the semifinal was her final appearance in an ODI World Cup. “I won’t be there now, there you go,” she said with a smile. “That’s the beauty of this next cycle. We’re going to see it unfold. There’s a T20 World Cup next year, which is really exciting, but I think our one-day cricket is going to shift a little again. We’ll learn from tonight, grow, and get better.”

Alyssa Healy bows out of ODI World Cups as one of Australia’s modern greats, having played 123 matches and scored 3,563 runs at an average of 35.98, with seven hundreds and 18 fifties, along with countless match-winning contributions behind the stumps and with the bat.

Her legacy, however, will live on, not only through the records she leaves behind but through the fearless, attacking brand of cricket she helped define for Australia’s golden generation.

As India march on to the final, Australia, under Healy’s leadership, walk away knowing that even in defeat, their competitive spirit and commitment to excellence remain unmatched.

In the second Semi-final of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, where India Women are hosting the defending champions and seven-time winners Australia Women at Navi Mumbai, Australia Women recorded the second-highest total in the history of knockout stages in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup. 

After winning the toss, Australia Women chose to bat first in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 semi-final against India Women, putting on a commanding show with the bat. They posted a massive total of 338 runs in 49.5 overs, marking the second-highest total in Women's World Cup knockout history.

Notably, the Australian Women’s cricket team also holds the record for the highest total in the knockout stages, 356/5 in 50 overs against England Women during the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Final. This performance once again highlighted Australia Women’s dominance in world cricket, their batting depth, and their consistent success in major ICC tournaments.

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Highest totals in the knockout matches of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup

Phoebe Litchfield scored century, Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner added strong half-centuries

In the latest India Women vs Australia Women clash during the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Semi-final, Australian opener Phoebe Litchfield delivered a stunning performance with a memorable century.

The left-handed batter smashed a 77-ball hundred and built a brilliant 155-run partnership with Ellyse Perry for the second wicket, setting the tone for a commanding total. Litchfield ended her innings with 119 runs off 93 balls, hitting 17 fours and three sixes a true masterclass in women’s ODI cricket.

Meanwhile, Ellyse Perry showcased her experience and form against India Women, scoring her first 50-plus knock of the 2025 World Cup with 77 runs off 88 balls, featuring six boundaries and two maximums.

Despite losing wickets in the latter part of the innings, the in-form Ashleigh Gardner played a crucial role in maintaining the scoring momentum, smashing a quickfire 63 off 45 balls with four fours and four sixes. Her impactful innings helped Australia Women post the second-highest total in ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup knockout history, reaffirming their dominance in women’s international cricket and their reputation as one of the most successful teams in World Cup history.

On the bowling front, Shree Charani (2/49) and Deepti Sharma (2/73) were the pick of the bowlers for India Women, showing grit under pressure.

Additionally, three crucial run-outs reflected India’s sharp fielding efforts, even as Australia’s batting lineup proved too strong in this high-stakes semi-final encounter. The thrilling contest added another memorable chapter to the India vs Australia Women’s cricket rivalry, highlighting world-class performances and the growing competitiveness of women’s cricket globally.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What record did Australia Women set in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Semi-final?

In the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Semi-final against India Women, Australia Women recorded the second-highest total in knockout stage history. They scored 338 runs in 49.5 overs, reaffirming their dominance in women’s international cricket.

2. Who was the top performer for Australia Women in the 2025 World Cup Semi-final against India?

Phoebe Litchfield was the standout performer for Australia Women, scoring a brilliant 119 runs off 93 balls. She shared a 155-run partnership with Ellyse Perry, who contributed 77 runs, while Ashleigh Gardner added a quickfire 63 off 45 balls.

3. What is the highest team total in ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup knockout history?

The highest team total in ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup knockout history is 356/5 by Australia Women against England Women in the 2022 World Cup Final. Australia also holds the second-highest total with 338 against India Women in the 2025 Semi-final.

4. How did India Women perform in the 2025 World Cup Semi-final against Australia?

Despite a strong fielding effort with three run-outs and solid bowling performances from Shree Charani (2/49) and Deepti Sharma (2/73), India Women struggled to contain Australia’s powerful batting lineup, which led to a record-breaking total.

5. Why is the Australia Women vs India Women rivalry so significant in women’s cricket?

The rivalry between Australia Women and India Women is one of the most intense in women’s cricket. Both teams have a history of producing high-quality contests, with Australia’s consistency and India’s emerging talent making every encounter, including the 2025 World Cup Semi-final, a thrilling spectacle for fans worldwide.

Australia women finished the league stage of the Women’s World Cup at the top position with six victories in seven clashes at a net run rate of +2.102, while the Indian side ended at the fourth position with just three wins in seven encounters at a net run rate of +0.628. Both these sides will meet each other during the second semifinal of the event on October 30 at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

But what if the Women's World Cup match can’t happen due to the murky weather in Mumbai? The ICC expected rain interruptions in the competition’s knockouts, and reserve days have been kept for each of the clashes. In case of rain, the second semifinal will take place on October 31.

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In case the reserve day gets washed out, the Alyssa Healy-led side will qualify for the final of the Women’s World Cup 2025 on November 02 at the same venue. The defending champions will get the tickets for the final due to finishing as the higher-ranked side in comparison with the Blue Brigade. They are currently unbeaten since the defeat in the 2017 World Cup semifinal against this opponent.

Who will qualify if IND-W vs AUS-W Semi Final 2 of Women's World Cup 2025 gets washed out?

There are a few rules for the reserve day of the second semifinal. First of all, every effort will be made to complete the fixture on the scheduled day with any necessary reduction in the overs. If the 50-over game is interrupted by rain on the scheduled day of the semi-final game and the match is reduced to a few overs, and if no further play takes place after the reduction, then the match will be reverted to a 50-over clash when resumed on the reserve day.

If the play doesn’t begin on the designated day after the overs are reduced, and then the rain returns and play is abandoned, the reduction of overs will be carried to the reserve day. The minimum overs for any result is 20 overs per side.

In the league stage game, several half-centuries from the Indian side take them to 330 in 48.5 overs. But Healy’s 142-run knock with a few more starts from the other end saw Australia comfortably chasing down the total by three wickets and six balls to spare.

India’s former opening batter and coach, Sunil Gavaskar, was furious after he learnt that two Australian women cricketers faced harassment in Indore during the Women’s World Cup 2025. It happened on the eve of their game at the Holkar Stadium against South Africa, where the two players were touched inappropriately by a person on a motorcycle as they were strolling to a café. 

Gavaskar believes that incidents like these will tear the image of the nation, and the accused should face severe punishment. During an interaction with India Today, the former captain hopes to see the guilty person punished.

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“Yes, I think because we are famous for Atithi Devo Bhava, to hear of this is very, very sad. It is, without question, a heinous incident. The law will take its course, but I do hope that the guilty person is punished severely – you lock them up and throw away the key. That’s the only way, I think. Just lock him up and throw the keys away.” Gavaskar expressed on India Today.

Sunil Gavaskar furious at Australian women players facing harassment in Women’s World Cup 2025

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Devajit Saikia, condemned the unfortunate incident as he also thanked the Madhya Pradesh police for arresting the accused and asked the security to get more tightened.

“It is a very condemnable but stray incident. India is known for its hospitality and care. We have zero tolerance for such incidents. We appreciate the Madhya Pradesh Police for their prompt action to nab the culprit. Let the law take its course to punish the culprit. We assure to revisit our safety protocols if required to further tighten the security.” Saikia expressed in an official statement.

“No woman should ever have to endure such trauma, and our thoughts and support are with those impacted by this distressing incident. This unfortunate event has deeply affected everyone at MPCA, who cherishes the values of respect, safety, and the dignity of women. It is truly inspiring to see the players rise above this painful experience.” MPCA revealed in a statement.