It was during a routine net session in July when Australian cricketer Sophie Molineux sustained a rib injury that jeopardised her T20 World Cup dream.
The left-hander was struck in the chest after mistiming a pull shot, undergoing scans the following week that confirmed a fractured rib.
“I was actually doing some range hitting, and that’s probably why (I missed) because I can’t range hit,” Molineux laughed while speaking to Fox Cricket last week.
“I just got a bit early on one, and it got me flush.
“It wasn’t until the following week I tried to bat again and thought, ‘Oh, something’s not right here’.”
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Molineux was ruled out for eight weeks, missing the recent Hundred campaign in England where she was due to represent the Manchester Originals. She found herself in a race against the clock before October’s T20 World Cup.
“I had a bit of time luckily,” she continued.
“It’s a funny one the ribs, I’ve never really had anything like that, just sort of waiting for the bone to heal.”
Thankfully, Molineux is feeling “pretty much 100 per cent” ahead of next month’s tournament, where Australia is hoping to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive title.
The Victorian, who captains the Melbourne Renegades in the Women’s Big Bash League, won two T20 World Cup titles before her 23rd birthday, but not much has gone to plan in the four years since.
After dancing on the MCG podium alongside pop sensation Katy Perry in March 2020, Molineux spent three years hopping in and out of the casualty ward. She suffered a stress fracture in her foot in late 2021, missing that summer’s Ashes campaign, the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Later that year, the left-armed spinner underwent surgery after rupturing her ACL during a WBBL match, ruling her out for another 12 months. She lost her national contract and missed the 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa along with last year’s Ashes tour of England.
Molineux thought she’d never represent Australia again.
Molineux to make Aussie team return | 01:48
However, the 26-year-old made her long-awaited international return during February’s Test match against South Africa in Perth, ending an 858-day drought between appearances in Australian colours.
“It was honestly just so nice to be back playing in that team, putting on those colours and playing for Australia again,” Molineux continued.
“It’s been a long time between drinks.”
Joining Molineux in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad are Victorian teammates and former roommates Tayla Vlaeminck and Georgia Wareham, who have an unfortunate history of injury themselves.
The trio watched the 2022 World Cup final from their living room couch, donning moon boots as they toasted Australia’s victory over England in Christchurch.
But for the first time in more than four years, they’re all fit and ready to represent their country.
“It’s pretty special,” Molineux said.
“We were doing this stuff at a young age; we’re all living together and all travelling and doing Australian tours together, and we just thought this was going to happen for the next 15 years. It was becoming normal for us.
“And then all of a sudden, times change, and things happen.
“We were just passing ships; one of us would be injured, or the other one would.
“This time around, we’re not taking it for granted.
“We caught up for a quiet drink together (last week), just to appreciate that we’ve made it to a World Cup together because it’s been a long time.
“As tricky as times have been for all of us, we were always looking out for each other.”
Earlier this year, Molineux was named player of the Women’s Premier League final in India, taking 3-20 from four overs against the Delhi Capitals to help the Royal Challengers Bangalore win their maiden title.
Later that month, she won player of the series following Australia’s T20 whitewash over Bangladesh, taking six wickets at 8.33.
Molineux’s recent success in subcontinent conditions was enough for her to edge out veteran tweaker Jess Jonassen in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad.
Molineux & Perry lead RCB to WPL title | 01:07
Last week, the T20 World Cup was moved to the United Arab Emirates due to political unrest in Bangladesh, but Molineux is confident Australia has collected enough intel ahead of the marquee tournament.
“A lot of us haven’t played (in the UAE), but it’s not too dissimilar to Bangladesh,” Molineux explained.
“The (national men’s team) that played the World Cup over there a couple of years ago said it’s not too dissimilar to Bangladesh.
“Obviously a hot climate, so there might be a bit of turn, but everything’s a bit quicker there too because of the dew.
“Internally as a group, we’re really comfortable with where we’re sitting, because we’ve had a really good build-up to this summer.
“We put a lot of information in our pocket after (the Bangladesh tour) and spent three or four months in the winter with that information in the back of our mind, being able to plan and practice.”
The first T20 between Australia and New Zealand gets underway at Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena on Thursday, September 19 at 7.10pm AEST.
