Australia captain provides fitness update on injured back

Australia captain Sophie Molineux has declared herself ready to take on the West Indies in the upcoming white-ball series in the Caribbean.

Molineux has battled a back injury in recent times and had to sit out the backend of the Aussies’ recent ODI home series against India, but is inching closer to full fitness ahead of the fixtures against the West Indies.

With the next edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup less than three months away in England, Molineux has revealed a positive fitness update on her troublesome back ahead of the white-ball series with the West Indies that commences on Thursday.

“(I will be) playing in the T20s, (I am) available and looking forward to playing a role and getting back out there, that’s for sure,” Molineux said from St Vincent on Tuesday.

“I am looking forward to getting back out there with the girls.”

Whether or not Molineux plays all six of Australia’s white-ball fixtures in the Caribbean remains to be seen, with the left-armer suggesting she may be rested from the 50-over contests that will be played after the T20Is to ensure her body is ready for June’s T20 World Cup.

There are also concerns as to whether Molineux will be able to bowl at any stage, with the left-armer having already resumed batting and fielding at training.

The series against the West Indies is Australia’s last scheduled series prior to the start of the T20 World Cup and Molineux said all the planning was focused around peaking for the 20-over showcase.

“It’s an important series for all of us as we haven’t got a whole lot of games before that T20 World Cup,” Molineux added.

“Each game we have together is really important and make sure we’re building towards that. And I suppose to be able to get my feet in behind the desk and lead the group.

“I’m looking forward to making the most of those opportunities and especially just getting away and jumping on a plane together and connecting as a group again after what’s been a few months in Australia.

“It’s going to be really good for us.”

The West Indies will also be treating the series as a precursor for the T20 World Cup, with the 2016 champions at full strength for the fixtures against the Aussies with skipper Hayley Matthews and experienced performers Stafanie Taylor, Afy Fletcher, Shemaine Campbelle and Deandra Dottin included in their playing squad.

The Caribbean side have high hopes for inexperienced duo Eboni Brathwaite and Jahzara Claxton who are also included in the 15-player group, with Matthews predicting big things for the young pair.

Matthews also knows the importance of the series against Australia, with the side hoping to build on their efforts at the most recent T20 World Cup when they were beaten in the semi-finals by eventual champions New Zealand.

“It is a very important (series) and I think it’s going to be a good test of where we are as a team right now,” Matthews suggested.

“Just a couple of months before the World Cup does start, so hopefully we can see some bright sparks and be able to take a lot of positives out of this series.”

West Indies squad: Hayley Matthews (c), Chinelle Henry, Aaliyah Alleyne, Eboni Brathwaite, Shemaine Campbelle, Jahzara Claxton, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Jannillea Glasgow, Shawnisha Hector, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor

Australia squad: Sophie Molineux (c), Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham, Tahlia Wilson

Tour schedule

First T20I: March 19, St Vincent
Second T20I: March 21, St Vincent
Third T20I: March 23, St Vincent

First ODI: March 27, St Kitts
Second ODI: March 29, St Kitts
Third ODI: April 2, St Kitts