Aussies suffer shock loss to India in Sophie Molineux’s captaincy debut

Alyssa Healy’s retirement was always going to have an impact on this team, but few saw this result coming as Australia slumped to another significant loss to India who knocked them out of the 50-over World Cup last year.

While the loss of a captain is always significant, it’s no excuse for the batting performance they dished out at the SCG with their all-star squad bowled out for just 133 on Sunday night.

Several batters got off to good starts with Georgia Wareham (30 off 19) leading the way, but a steady fall of wickets to some rash shots meant the innings never got going.

Healy’s replacement at the top of the order, Georgia Voll, struck four boundaries but was one of many batters who will feel they missed out on a big score, with captaincy hopeful Ash Gardner sent packing for just four.

Molineux struck with her first ball to remove the dangerous Shafali Verma, but India raced to 1-50 from 5.1 overs – just enough to constitute a match – before heavy rain forced players from the field.

The good news is they have four days to sort things out before the next T20 in Canberra before the pressure really ramps up.

SELECTION SHOCK

The shocks started before a ball was bowled with news at the toss that co-vice-captain Tahlia McGrath was sensationally left out of the team.

The Australian side is stacked but there was no room for one of the best all-rounders in world cricket, with veteran quick Megan Schutt also overlooked.

They were bold calls to start the series, with selectors now having to weigh up whether they bring them straight back in following the loss.

REDDY TO ROCK

Arundhati Reddy is going to be a problem for the Aussies this series after the Indian quick looked unplayable at times with figures of 4-22.

Reddy picked up the big wickets of Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry, with the latter brilliantly caught by Harmanpreet Kaur after smashing four boundaries from her first 10 deliveries.

She had great support from Renuka Singh (2-14) who bowled 18 dot balls in her frugal spell.

LIGHT HEARTED START FOR MOLINEUX

If new Australian captain Sophie Molineux was feeling any nerves as she stood for her first national anthem in charge … the ice was quickly broken with a comical moment at the SCG.

National anthem singer, Hayley Teal unfortunately missed the jump with her rendition of Advance Australia Fair, instantly putting her out of sync with the backing vocals of the Qantas girls’ choir.

Molineux and fellow Australian players struggled to hold back smiles during the anthem as they valiantly tried to work out which rendition they should be singing along with.

Fox Cricket commentator Mel Jones summed it up best.

“Well, there’s only one better thing than hearing the national anthem, and that’s hearing it twice,” Jones quipped.

“I think the players have done extremely well there.”

It was an awkward start to the first women’s international of the summer against India, which was delayed by rainy weather in Sydney.

A crowd of 20,000 was expected, but that number may have been affected by the threat of a wet night.

Molineux was a shock choice as Australian captain, with superstar Ashleigh Gardner overlooked for the Victorian to be appointed as Alyssa Healy’s successor.

Sydney fans would have been disappointed at the controversial decision by Cricket Australia to move Healy on from the T20 format, robbing her of a chance to farewell supporters in her home town.

Healy will play out the remainder of the summer in the ODIs and the Test against India, but won’t be seen in the T20s.

Originally published as Aussies suffer shock loss to India in Sophie Molineux’s captaincy debut