{"id":9385,"date":"2026-05-13T04:29:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T04:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1win.za.com\/ipl\/molineux-named-australia-captain-as-healy-retires-and-squad-readied-for-2026-t20-wc"},"modified":"2026-05-13T04:29:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T04:29:21","slug":"molineux-named-australia-captain-as-healy-retires-and-squad-readied-for-2026-t20-wc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1win.za.com\/ipl\/molineux-named-australia-captain-as-healy-retires-and-squad-readied-for-2026-t20-wc","title":{"rendered":"Molineux named Australia captain as Healy retires and squad readied for 2026 T20 WC"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Australia women\u2019s national cricket team has unveiled its squad for the 2026 ICC Women\u2019s T20 World Cup, setting the tone for a new era after the retirement of long-time leader Alyssa Healy. The group\u2019s leadership core will be steered by spinner Sophie Molineux, with Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath appointed as vice-captains.<\/p>\n<p>Healy had earlier confirmed that she would step away after the India series, concluding her ODI career in memorable fashion with a 158-run knock against India in March. That decision leaves Australia looking at the tournament in England and Wales as a fresh chapter, with the competition scheduled to run from June 12 to July 5.<\/p>\n<h3>Quick facts<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Australia women\u2019s squad announced for the 2026 ICC Women\u2019s T20 World Cup<\/li>\n<li>Sophie Molineux named captain; Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath named vice-captains<\/li>\n<li>Healy\u2019s retirement confirmed after the India series; ODI finale included a 158-run innings vs India in March<\/li>\n<li>Tournament: 12 teams, 33 matches, seven venues; final at Lord\u2019s<\/li>\n<li>Australia opener: vs South Africa on June 13 at Old Trafford<\/li>\n<li>New Zealand are defending champions after winning the 2024 final vs South Africa in the UAE<\/li>\n<li>Australia won the 2023 edition in South Africa for their sixth title and third straight crown<\/li>\n<li>Lucy Hamilton included as a left-arm pacer in place of Darcie Brown<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Australia\u2019s campaign begins against South Africa women\u2019s national cricket team at Old Trafford on June 13. The wider tournament format will see 12 sides play 33 matches across seven venues, culminating with the final at Lord\u2019s Cricket Ground.<\/p>\n<p>New Zealand arrive as defending champions after beating South Africa in the 2024 final held in the UAE. Australia, meanwhile, will carry the momentum of their 2023 success in South Africa, when they captured a sixth Women\u2019s T20 World Cup crown and extended their run to a third consecutive title.<\/p>\n<h3>What shaped the selection<\/h3>\n<p>One of the headline inclusions in Australia\u2019s squad is left-arm pacer Lucy Hamilton, brought in instead of Darcie Brown. Brown misses out despite taking 34 wickets in 41 T20 internationals, leaving Hamilton to play a key role in the team\u2019s bowling plans.<\/p>\n<p>The squad also features the return of Grace Harris and all-rounder Annabel Sutherland, adding further depth to Australia\u2019s batting and bowling options as the tournament approaches.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Australia Women\u2019s T20 World Cup 2026 Squad:<\/strong> Sophie Molineux (captain), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner (vice-captain), Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (vice-captain), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham, and Tahlia Wilson (travelling reserve).<\/p>\n<p>Stay connected for the latest IPL Live Score, IPL news, IPL Schedule, IPL Points Table updates, and the race for the IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple Cap.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Australia women\u2019s national cricket team has unveiled its squad for the 2026 ICC Women\u2019s T20 World Cup, setting the tone for a new era&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":9384,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Australia Women\u2019s T20 World Cup 2026: Molineux Captain","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Sophie Molineux named Australia Women\u2019s T20 World Cup 2026 captain as Alyssa Healy retires\u2014meet vice-captains Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9385","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Australia Women\u2019s T20 World Cup 2026: Molineux Captain<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sophie Molineux named Australia Women\u2019s T20 World Cup 2026 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