Victoria has named its 13-player squad to face the ACT Meteors in the Women's National Cricket League this week.
The fixtures mark Victoria's first matches since the WBBL break, with the group energised and excited to launch into the second half of the WNCL season.
The squad will be bolstered by the return of valuable experience, with Sophie Molineux and Molly Strano both named.
Molineux returns to the Victorian side for the first time this season, bringing valuable leadership alongside her world-class bowling and batting capabilities as she prepares for the upcoming Australia v India series.
Strano will also play her first match for Victoria since returning to Melbourne from Tasmania, providing a strong boost to the bowling group and adding further experience to the squad.
Their returns will complement Victoria's exciting young core, with Australian contracted player Tess Flintoff, Captain Rhys McKenna, Vice-Captain Ella Hayward, Hasrat Gill and Liv Henry continuing to drive the group's on-field growth and development.
Victoria will be led by caretaker coach Blake Reed for the round, with Head Coach Andy Christie remaining in Melbourne for family reasons.
"There's a real sense of excitement and purpose within the group heading into this block," Reed said.
"Having experienced players like Sophie and Molly alongside our emerging core gives us a great platform to keep building consistency and pushing our standards in the second half of the season."
Victoria will face the ACT Meteors at EPC Solar Park on Tuesday January 6 and Thursday January 8 with both matches beginning at 10 am AEDT.
Victorian Women's 13 Player Squad
- Rhys McKenna (c) – Prahran CC
- Samara Dulvin – Ringwood CC
- Nicole Faltum – Dandenong CC
- Tess Flintoff – Ringwood CC
- Hasrat Gill – Melbourne CC
- Ella Hayward (vc) – Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies CC
- Olivia Henry – Prahran CC
- Sophie Molineux – Dandenong CC
- Sasha Moloney – Carlton CC
- Georgia Prestwidge – Melbourne CC
- Sophie Reid – Carlton CC
- Zoe Samuel – Melbourne CC
- Molly Strano – Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies CC
