Look, here's the thing about Sophie Molineux's appointment as Australia's new captain: the selectors had barely finished announcing it before a back injury threatened to derail her entire leadership debut. But if this week's news is any guide, the plan is holding up pretty well.
According to reporting by ABC News, Molineux is expected to travel to the Caribbean for Australia's multi-format series against the West Indies next month. Chief selector Shawn Flegler indicated the allrounder should be fit to lead across all three formats once she reaches the Caribbean, assuming fitness tests go to plan.
It's been a bumpy ride since Cricket Australia named Molineux as Alyssa Healy's successor back in January. The 28-year-old Victorian was ruled out of the remainder of the India multi-format series after reporting lower back pain late last month, forcing a reshuffle just as she was meant to start her captaincy journey. Healy stepped back into the leadership role for the remaining ODI and Test matches, which gave Australia time to manage Molineux's recovery without jeopardising the series.
Fair dinkum, there's a pattern here that matters. Molineux's injury history over the past four or five years has seen her sidelined more often than not with serious foot and knee problems. When she was named captain, there were understandable questions asked about whether the workload could be managed around her body's limitations. But the selectors have been clear about their approach: she won't play every single game, and they're focused on keeping her fit for the tournaments that matter most, starting with the T20 World Cup in June.
The West Indies tour kicks off on 19 March with a T20I in Kingstown, followed by three more white-ball games before three ODIs in St Kitts late that month. It's critical preparation for the World Cup. If Molineux isn't available for the Caribbean leg, one of her vice-captains, either Tahlia McGrath or Ashleigh Gardner, would step in. But the plan is for Molineux to lead across the board once she's cleared.
Healy, meanwhile, bowed out in style. She captained Australia to a 10-wicket thrashing of India in Perth over the weekend, finishing her 16-year international career on a winning note. Annabel Sutherland was named player of the match and series after a standout all-round performance. It's the kind of ending a legend deserves.
At the end of the day, Flegler's message was straightforward: the selectors don't think Molineux will miss much more cricket. They've got Healy holding the fort for now, and the plan all along has been to transition the captaincy to Molineux in the West Indies as she continues building leadership experience ahead of the World Cup. That remains the priority. One back injury shouldn't derail what could be the start of a long captaincy era.