Melbourne Renegades star player Sophie Molineux is ruled out of the entire season of Womens Big Bash League (WBBL 09) due to torn ACL injury.
Sophie Molineux ruptured her ACL last season in November while bowing against the Melbourne Stars in WBBL 08. She has been on the sidelines and has been recovering well. The left arm spin bowler continues to make good progress and will miss the entire season for Melbourne Renegades. She is expected to be back in action later in the year for the second half of the domestic season.
The Melbourne Renegades are now in search of a stand in skipper for the rest of the season as the other best local player, Tayla Vlaeminck is also out of the entire season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Cruel blow for Sophie Molineux and the Renegades 😟 #WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/bFP5KcMFlF
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) October 12, 2023
The 25-year old all-rounder confirmed that she will be donning the Melbourne Renegades jersey in the next season after signing a two year contract extension earlier in the year. She also spoke about her injury and how she has been recovering in a recent interaction with her team.
“I’m really disappointed that my ongoing recovery from an ACL reconstruction means that I won’t be fit and available in time for this season,” “But I’m very much appreciative of the support the club has shown me during the process and I’m very keen to repay their support by helping the team in any way possible over the coming months,” Sophie Molineux said in a statement. (Source: Cricket Australia)
The candidates for the stand in captain role includes Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur, West Indies captain Hayley Matthews and England International player Tammy Beaumont. Georgia Wareham who was the vice captain of the team in the last season could also be appointed as the captain of the team.
The team management will announce the stand in captain on next Friday at the Junction Oval when Melbourne Renegades take on Brisbane Heat in their opening match of the WBBL 09.