Mooney the smartest I have played with, says Molineux

In a team of so many superstars, Beth Mooney may not have got her due often enough. But, she keeps delivering. The bigger the occasion, the better.

She was named the Player of the Match in Sunday’s final of the Women’s T20 World Cup at Lord’s. She was also named the Player of the Tournament.

And she has done it before. She was the best player of the final at the 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa. She was the best player of the T20 World Cup that Australia won at home.

During those World Cups, Mooney could focus solely on her batting, as her opening partner Alyssa Healy had kept wicket. After the captain’s retirement, Mooney has been donning the keeping gloves, and has been more than effective.

That she is an astute reader of the game helps. “She is probably the smartest cricketer I have ever played with,” Australian skipper Sophie Molineux said. “The way she can sum up situations and be able to grind out innings at the same time. She has got all the shots and is able to play freely. She has got nerves of steel.”

The captain said Mooney was the leader in the group. “Girls listen when she speaks,” said Molineux. “She is the backbone to our batting group. Her behind the stumps was just next level in the final.”

Mooney, however, reacted to those words from her captain thus: “It is a great compliment from Soph, but I think I’m a little bit of a fraud,” she said. “I might be much better if I started looking at the analyst packs and worked out where the bowlers were bowling at me. I just enjoy the contest, enjoy getting better and evolving my game and enjoy contributing to team success, whatever team that is.”

Any team is lucky to have Mooney.