MELBOURNE, Australia – Cricket Australia has pulled back the curtain on its first women’s World Cup squad following the retirement of legendary wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy, marking a new era for the world’s top-ranked women’s T20 side heading into the 2025 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup hosted by England and Wales.
The announcement, made Wednesday, confirmed long-serving spin all-rounder Sophie Molineux will step into the captaincy role, the first permanent skipper to take the reins after Healy stepped away from international cricket earlier this year. Healy, one of the most influential players in Australian women’s cricket history, first signaled her retirement plans in January, confirming she would end her career after Australia’s home ODI series against India. She wrapped up her 14-year ODI tenure in March with a career-defining 158 runs, leading the Aussies to a comfortable victory over India in her final outing.
Joining Molineux in the leadership group are vice-captains Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath. Gardner’s appointment comes after she was passed over for the top captaincy role earlier this year, ending speculation about her position in the squad’s leadership hierarchy ahead of the global tournament.
The 12-team T20 World Cup is set to run from June 12 to July 5, with 33 matches to be contested across seven host venues, culminating in a title decider at cricket’s iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. Australia will kick off its title defense campaign on June 13 against South Africa at Manchester’s Old Trafford. Australia enters the tournament as one of the clear favorites, having claimed three consecutive T20 World Cup titles and six overall trophies, most recently beating South Africa by 19 runs on home soil for the 2023 crown. Current defending champions New Zealand, who upset South Africa by 32 runs in the 2024 tournament held in the United Arab Emirates, will also be among the top contenders for the trophy.
One of the most eye-catching selection calls was the inclusion of left-arm fast bowler Lucy Hamilton, who earned a spot in the 15-player squad at the expense of established right-arm quick Darcie Brown. Brown, a key contributor to Australia’s recent success, has claimed 34 wickets across 41 T20 international matches, making her omission a surprise to many cricket observers. Two other familiar faces, power-hitter Grace Harris and all-rounder Annabel Sutherland, marked their return to the national squad after periods out of selection consideration. Tahlia Wilson has been named as the travelling reserve for the tour.
Shawn Flegler, chair of Australia’s national selection panel, defended the selection decisions in comments after the squad announcement, noting that Molineux has stepped seamlessly into the leadership role following Healy’s retirement.
“Putting together a World Cup squad is never a straightforward process, but we are extremely confident in the balance and stability we have built across this group,” Flegler said. “This is an experienced core of players, and we firmly believe this group has what it takes to bring the World Cup trophy home.”
Flegler acknowledged that Brown was “unlucky to miss out” on selection, explaining that the call came down to the expected playing conditions in England and Wales. “With at least six right-arm fast bowling options already in the mix, and our assessment that raw pace will be less of an advantage on these surfaces, we opted to bring in Lucy Hamilton, who offers a unique point of difference as a left-arm quick,” Flegler added.
Full 2025 Australia Women’s T20 World Cup squad: Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner (vice-captain), Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (vice-captain), Sophie Molineux (captain), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham; Tahlia Wilson (travelling reserve)