Follow Us14 months ago, Sophie Molineux was in the midst of a very promising Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season when she ruptured her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in a clash against Perth Scorchers at the Junction Oval in Melbourne. ACL injuries, in general, are brutal, and this particular tear ended up keeping Molineux out of action for an excruciatingly long period: a year and two months to be precise.
A gun left-arm spinner, Molineux was right in contention to make it to the 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa, but the untimely injury dashed her dreams and forced her to retreat for over a year.
What made the injury tragic was the fact that it was only a year prior that Molineux had suffered another serious injury, a stress fracture in the foot that kept her out of action of both Australia's 50-over World Cup triumph in New Zealand and the Commonwealth games triumph in Birmingham.
But after two major setbacks, the 26-year-old is back, and she is back with a bang. Bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for her base price of INR 30 lakh at the auction in December, Molineux has started the season off explosively with the ball, taking 4 wickets in the first 2 matches.
Against the Gujarat Giants on Tuesday (February 27), she was the star with the ball for the Reds as she picked up her first three-fer since October 2022.
For Molineux, the good times are back again: she’s back doing what she loves doing, and she’s also excelling at what she’s doing.
Having missed the best part of two years, the 26-year-old is simply grateful to be back, and is keen on making every second on the field count.
“It’s nice to be back. It was a long couple of years. Watched a lot of cricket from the sidelines. I remember watching the WPL last year and thinking ‘what an amazing opportunity that could be’. I’m sort of pinching myself at the moment,” Molineux said at the press conference post the Gujarat game.
“Definitely not taking anything for granted, especially after being injured for two years. Very grateful for being picked up by RCB without even playing a game (for two years). It’s a great group and I’m really enjoying the experience.”
In terms of wickets, Molineux (3/25) was the destroyer-in-chief against the Giants. However, the Player of the Match was awarded for Renuka Singh, who was all over the GG batters with the new ball.
By the seventh over, Renuka was done with her spell and she registered figures of 4-0-14-2, removing two big fishes in Phoebe Litchfield and Beth Mooney. The right-armer bowled three powerplay overs and conceded just 11 runs.
Post the game, Molineux lauded the incredible Renuka for setting the tone up-front with the ball.
“Renuka has been incredible in both games. Playing against her (for India), she’s so reliable. It’s great to be on the same side as her,” Molineux said.
“I think she’s really set the tone for RCB in both games. To be able to control the powerplay is a big thing in T20 cricket and she’s done that twice now.”
The left-arm spinner was also full of praise for Sabbhineni Meghana, who backed up the 53 she scored in the first game with an unbeaten 36 in the second. Molineux credited the management for giving Meghana the freedom to express herself.
“Just looking at the way she’s playing, she’s got the freedom to play her game and she’s doing that well,” Molineux said.
“A big part of playing good cricket is having the backing of the people around you. It really seems like that’s the case with Meghana. She’s been playing her own game, which is a pleasure to watch.”