Sophie Molineux is an Australian cricketer who bowls left-arm orthodox spin and bats left-handed. She plays for Australia in all three formats: Tests, One-Day Internationals and T20 Internationals.
On 29 January 2026 she was named captain of Australia’s women’s team across all formats, taking over from the retiring Alyssa Healy. In July 2026 she led Australia to the Women’s T20 World Cup title, beating England by seven wickets in the final at Lord’s.
Early Life & Journey
Sophie Molineux was born on 17 January 1998 (age 28) in Bairnsdale, in eastern Victoria. Her father, Mark, shared her love of cricket.
Former Australia women’s coach John Harmer spotted her talent when she was ten and became her private mentor. She took a hat-trick for Gippsland at the 2013–14 Under-18 state championship. She was named Player of the Championships at the 2014 Under-18 Nationals and later captained Victoria at under-18 level.
She grew up in Bairnsdale and graduated from Nagle College in 2016.
She made her debut for Victoria in the Women’s National Cricket League on 15 October 2016. She has played for the Melbourne Renegades since the first Women’s Big Bash League season in 2015–16.
Cricket & Stats
She made her Test debut in the women’s Ashes against England at Taunton on 18 July 2019.
Her T20I debut came on 22 March 2018 against India.
Her one-day international debut came on 18 October 2018 against the Pakistan women at Kuala Lumpur.
As of November 2026, Sophie Molineux has played 3 Tests for Australia. She has 7 wickets at an average of 24.85, with best figures of 4/95, and 97 runs.
As of November 2026, she has played 19 one-day internationals, taking 32 wickets at an average of 17.00 with an economy rate of 3.87. Her best bowling figures are 4/14.
As of November 2026, she has played 54 T20 internationals and taken 57 wickets at an average of 18.68, with an economy rate of 6.17. Her best figures are 4/16.
In the Women’s Big Bash League she has played 115 matches, scoring 1,756 runs with a high score of 78. She has taken 101 wickets, with best figures of 4/17.
Injuries and comebacks
Molineux dislocated her right shoulder in February 2019 and needed surgery. During WBBL|05 she took a mid-season break to focus on her mental health. Later, serious foot and knee injuries kept her out of international cricket for more than two years before she returned.
A back injury kept her out of the end of the multi-format series against India in February 2026, her first series as captain.
Achievements
In 2017 she won the inaugural Betty Wilson Young Cricketer of the Year award.
She won the T20 World Cup with Australia in 2018 and 2020. In the 2020 final against India, she took 1/21 as Australia won by 85 runs.
She won the Young Gun award in WBBL|03. She became Melbourne Renegades captain from WBBL|07 and led them to their first WBBL title in late 2024.
In the Women’s Premier League she played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2024. In the final against Delhi Capitals on 17 March 2024, she took three wickets in one over, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues and Alice Capsey, and finished with 3/20. RCB won their first WPL title by eight wickets.
Australia captain and T20 World Cup 2026
Cricket Australia named Molineux all-format captain on 29 January 2026. Tahlia McGrath stayed on as vice-captain, with Ash Gardner added as a second vice-captain. Cricket Australia said it would manage her workload because of her injury history.
At the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in England, Australia beat West Indies by eight wickets in the semi-final at The Oval. In the final at Lord’s, Australia won the toss and bowled. Molineux took 1/32 as England were held to 150/4. Beth Mooney scored 64 and Australia won by seven wickets with 17 balls to spare, in front of nearly 29,000 fans.
It was Australia’s seventh Women’s T20 World Cup title, a record, and it came six months into her captaincy.
BioData
Full Name: Sophie Grace Molineux
Born: 17 Jan 1998 (age 28)
Sports: Cricket
Birth Place: Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia
Playing Role: Bowling all-rounder
Batting Style: Left-Handed Batter
Bowling Style: Left-arm orthodox spin
Height: 165 cm (about 5′ 5″)
Teams: Australia Women, Victoria, Melbourne Renegades Women, Birmingham Phoenix, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Canterbury
Australia captaincy: All formats, from January 2026
Zodiac sign: Capricorn
Frequently asked questions
Who is Sophie Molineux?
Sophie Molineux is an Australian cricketer who bowls left-arm orthodox spin and bats left-handed. She plays for Australia in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
When and where was Sophie Molineux born?
She was born on 17 January 1998 (age 28) in Bairnsdale, in eastern Victoria, Australia.
Is Sophie Molineux the Australia captain?
Yes. On 29 January 2026 she was named captain of Australia's women's team across all formats, taking over from Alyssa Healy.
Did Sophie Molineux win the 2026 T20 World Cup?
Yes. She captained Australia to the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup title. Australia beat England by seven wickets in the final at Lord's.
How did Sophie Molineux bowl in the 2026 T20 World Cup final?
She took 1/32 as England were held to 150/4 at Lord's. Australia then won by seven wickets with 17 balls to spare.
What is Sophie Molineux's bowling style?
She bowls left-arm orthodox spin and bats left-handed.
When did Sophie Molineux make her debut for Australia?
Her T20I debut was on 22 March 2018 against India. Her ODI debut came on 18 October 2018 against Pakistan, and her Test debut on 18 July 2019 against England at Taunton.
How many T20I wickets has Sophie Molineux taken?
As of November 2026 she has taken 57 wickets in 54 T20 internationals, with best figures of 4/16.
Which WBBL team does Sophie Molineux play for?
She plays for the Melbourne Renegades. She became captain from WBBL|07 and led them to their first WBBL title in late 2024.
How tall is Sophie Molineux?
Sophie Molineux is 165 cm tall, about 5 feet 5 inches.
