[ad_1]
“There was a group of my friends. They had kids around the same age, so they’d always play on the sidelines throughout the whole day.
“She always had a pair of shorts on when she went to school – she played cricket with the boys all day with them in primary school.”
Like many girls from the country, Molineux played against the boys. Some sledged her, but she dealt with it. Then, as a 16-year-old playing against men, Molineux and her father put on a partnership of “about 170”.
“She’s got a tiger in her belly,” Mark said. “She’s very determined, very determined, and if she doesn’t like anything, she’ll come out and say it – especially with her cricket.”
The powers that be at Jolimont saw similar traits in Molineux – who may lack the numbers of superstar all-rounder Gardner, and the international leadership experience of McGrath, but had the all-round package of what they wanted in a leader.
“You can see she’s pretty calm,” Flegler said.
“What you don’t see is she’s pretty cheeky as well. She’s got a bit of white-line fever at times when she’s extremely competitive. But she also brings people together, and we think Soph is the right person for this time.”
Molineux loves having fun. The wider public saw this in the moments after the Twenty20 World Cup win at the MCG in 2020 when she busted the moves on stage with Perry. Asked if she would do it again now she was captain, Molineux replied: “Without a doubt, probably.”
Her response provides an insight into how she will lead the team. Not much will change.
Loading
“Everyone’s different, everyone’s got their different strengths, and I think the one thing I’ll probably do is be myself,” Molineux said.
“You probably can’t take the kid out of Bairnsdale.”
Molineux has overcome more adversity than most cricketers. She missed Australia’s victories in the 2022 World Cup and Commonwealth Games due to a foot injury. She’s ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament, and also taken time out to focus on her mental health. She says the setbacks have instilled resilience.
“It’s probably given me greater perspective – you know, things are never as bad as they seem in the moment, or as good sometimes,” Molineux said.
“I could probably use that strength at times, and it might keep me a bit more consistent and calm in moments. And I know we’re going to have a lot of big moments coming up that we’re going to need that calmness [in].”
Her first game in charge of Australia will come in the T20 series against India starting February 16. She takes over with the side in the unfamiliar position of not holding a World Cup.
Molineux has captained Victoria at senior and junior levels but her record in T20s, leading the Melbourne Renegades to the 2024 WBBL title, was a factor in her appointment.
Australia’s next four major goals – this year’s World Cup, women’s cricket’s inaugural Champions Trophy next year, and the Olympics and World Cup in 2028 – are all in the T20 arena.
“We’ve lost the last two World Cups we’ve been a part of, and we’re not going to shy away from that,” Molineux said.
“And they hurt, and we’ve spent time in reflection, and I think we’ve just got the right ingredients to be able to go another level, and that’s what we’re all excited about.
“It’s going to take a bit of courage. We’re not defending any more. We have to go out there and get it ourselves.”
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
[ad_2]
