Molineux and Hamilton to Miss Opening WNCL Matches

The first round of the 2026-27 Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) season began without two notable players, Australia captain Sophie Molineux and rising bowler Lucy Hamilton, who are both sidelined due to injuries. Molineux was set to play for Victoria when she sustained an injury to her hip joint. This development has raised questions about her participation in Australia’s upcoming white-ball series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. Cricket Australia (CA) has stated that her condition will be continuously evaluated in the run-up to these international fixtures.

Hamilton, on the other hand, has been ruled out from Queensland's matches against New South Wales due to a minor quadriceps strain incurred during training. As the domestic competition unfolds, several prominent players are still participating, including Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Ellyse Perry, and Phoebe Litchfield, all of whom are expected to showcase their skills on the state level before the international calendar resumes.

The opening WNCL round commenced with a triple-header on a Tuesday, featuring exciting matchups. Victoria will host South Australia at Junction Oval in two games held under lights. Meanwhile, the reigning champions Queensland will travel to Sydney to take on New South Wales in a highly anticipated set of matches. Tasmania is also scheduled to compete against Western Australia at the WACA Ground.

Despite Molineux's absence, Victoria's squad is bolstered by the inclusion of Annabel Sutherland, Kim Garth, and Georgia Wareham, who look to lead the team in Molineux’s stead, with Rhys McKenna captaining the side. Regular captain Nicole Faltum is currently on tour with Australia A in India, leading to McKenna taking the reins.

South Australia, captained by Jemma Barsby, features two CA-contracted players: Tahlia McGrath and Megan Schutt, who are both slated to participate in the opening games against Victoria. However, some players, including Darcie Brown, will miss these matches due to commitments with the Australia A team.

New South Wales, boasting T20 World Cup champions Litchfield, Ashleigh Gardner, and Ellyse Perry, will face Victoria in their round one encounter. The team includes newcomers Tara French, Emma Manix-Geeves, and Eva Ragg, who are all eager to make their WNCL debuts. Their squad is led by Lauren Cheatle, who has taken on captaincy duties.

Queensland has been led by new full-time captain Georgia Redmayne, and despite the absence of Lucy Hamilton, the squad remains strong with several prominent batters ready to shine. The team will look to replicate their success under the pressure of domestic competition.

Western Australia will feature experienced players such as Beth Mooney and Alana King, as they aim to build on their momentum from the previous season. Chloe Piparo returns as captain as they look to start the season on a positive note. This year's WNCL serves as a crucial platform for players to perform well ahead of the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh, which is part of the ICC Women’s Championship.

All matches during this season will be live-streamed for audiences in Australia on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app. Kayo Sports will also provide streams, ensuring fans have access to view the competition. With the season set to continue with a T20 Spring Challenge and Weber WBBL|12, excitement for women's cricket remains high as these athletes showcase their abilities on an important stage.