Molineux's comeback continues with new CA contract

Sophie Molineux's international comeback has continued after the injury-plagued spinner was offered a central contract from Cricket Australia for next summer.

Molineux is the only player on the list who was not contracted last summer, with retired former captain Meg Lanning the only one to drop off.

Spinner Jess Jonassen has retained a contract despite falling out of favour at the selection table in recent months, most recently missing the white-ball tour of Bangladesh.

Molineux's new deal comes after she was named player of the series in the Twenty20 leg of the Bangladesh tour, notably snaring 3-10 in last week's decisive second match.

The 26-year-old earned an upgrade to the contract list during the tour and is one of 17 players locked in for 2024-25.

Sopbe Molineux catches the ball.
The deal comes after Molineux was named player of the series in the T20 leg of the Bangladesh tour.

"We’re really pleased to be able to offer Soph a contract after her successful return to the side this summer," chief selector Shawn Flegler said.

"She’s shown a great deal of resilience to get back to full fitness and she’ll play an important role next summer."

Molineux made her comeback from more than two years out of the international set-up when she was selected for the Test match against South Africa in February.

She had missed Australia's home Ashes and one-day World Cup triumphs in 2022 through a foot fracture, before rupturing her left anterior cruciate ligament playing for the Melbourne Renegades in the Women's Big Bash League that November.

Molineux lost her contract in 2022 amid her injury struggles.

She played five of a possible six matches on the multi-format tour of Bangladesh that concluded last week, cementing her place in the set-up ahead of the T20 World Cup there this year.

Players outside the contracted list can still be selected for international fixtures and can earn an upgrade by accruing points following repeated selections. 

CA has the capacity to offer one more contract ahead of a bumper summer that will include one white-ball series against India, two against New Zealand and a home multi-format Ashes.

CRICKET AUSTRALIA 2024-25 CONTRACTED WOMEN'S PLAYERS:

Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store