Molineux fit for Rose Bowl T20Is, Litchfield under a cloud

Australia captain Sophie Molineux has declared herself fit for Sunday's opening Rose Bowl T20I against New Zealand at North Sydney Oval after overcoming a hip injury, but Phoebe Litchfield remains in doubt.

Molineux missed the three one-dayers against Bangladesh with a hip injury she picked up following her return from The Hundred, but trained strongly in Brisbane last week.

Litchfield suffered a hip muscle strain while batting during the second ODI in Brisbane and was ruled out of Wednesday's series finale.

The 23-year-old did not join her Australian teammates at their training session at Cricket Central on Friday, and with a short turnaround to Sunday's first T20I and the series played out across just five days, Australia will be reluctant to take risks with the No.3 batter.

"I'm ready to go," Molineux said on Friday. "It was pretty unfortunate timing in terms of getting back from The Hundred and having to miss out on those games against Bangladesh, but I'm really excited to get back out there on Sunday.

"Phoebe's tracking OK ... unsure (if she'll play) just yet, we'll just keep an eye on her over the next couple of days."

Left-arm quick Lucy Hamilton is also in the frame for a return after playing for the Governor-General's XI on Thursday evening, having missed the Bangladesh one-dayers with a quad niggle.

The 20-year-old struggled with her run-up in wet conditions during the second of her two overs in the shortened 10-over-a-side match, bowling four no-balls and a wide, but will still be pushing for selection after a successful campaign at the T20 World Cup.

The return of Molineux and Hamilton will create a selection squeeze, with the Australia skipper likely to replace deputy Tahlia McGrath, who was left out of the XI throughout the T20 World Cup in June and July.

Hamilton meanwhile will be vying for selection with Megan Schutt, who took 10 wickets at an average of seven in the ODIs against Bangladesh, but played just one match during the ICC's T20 showpiece in the UK.

"It was great to see Luce getting back out there last night," Molineux said. "She bowled fast and she'll only get better with more time out in the middle.

"I think it's always a tricky (selection) conversation because of the depth of our squad, and we've really prided ourselves on having 14 or 15 really strong players putting their hand up for each game, so there's going to be some hard conversations and some trickier decisions to make."

Australia will hold a second training session at North Sydney Oval on Saturday evening ahead of Sunday's series opener.

The trans-Tasman rivals will be playing for the coveted Rose Bowl trophy, which was previously only on offer for ODI series between the two countries. But with fewer 50-over series now on the schedule, it will now be a feature of all white-ball series.

Australia have held the trophy since February 2000 – longer than four of their squad members, and seven of the White Ferns, have been alive.

"Twenty-six years is a long time," Molineux said. "There's a special rivalry between New Zealand and Australia and it's been a long-standing one.

"Looking back over the last 20 years, there's been some really competitive Rose Bowl series, and now to be able to play for (the trophy) twice within six months is really exciting."

NRMA Insurance Women's T20 Series v New Zealand

First T20I: Sunday, October 18

Second T20I: Tuesday, October 20

Third T20I: Thursday, October 22

* All matches played at North Sydney Oval starting at 7:15pm AEDT

Australia T20I squad: Sophie Molineux (c), Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham 

New Zealand T20I squad: Melie Kerr (c), Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis (wk), Bella James, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Izzy Sharp

All women's international matches will be shown live on Seven, 7Plus, Kayo Sports and Foxtel