The rich Australian legacy has been carried forward by the women’s cricket team in recent times. With comprehensive victories all around the calendar year, they make a formidable XI. The Meg Lanning-led team comprises some big names such as Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Megan Schutt, and Ashleigh Gardner amongst others. To add to the glory The Southern Stars are currently placed No.1 on the ICC Women’s team rankings.
Contributing to huge victories with the bat and mediating from behind the wickets, Healy has been nothing less than the backbone of the National Women’s team. Having scored in excess of 5000 runs on the international stage with a healthy average and a staggering strike rate, she has relentlessly strived to grow as a player. The Australian from Gold Coast holds the World record for most runs in a Women’s T20 International which came against Sri Lanka at the Northern Sydney Oval in 2019 where she amassed 148*(61).
But most recently, Australian star Alyssa Healy has turned heads as her workload has started to take a toll on her mental well-being. With the upcoming Ashes commencing on the 22nd of June in Trent Bridge, this statement made by her will put the Australian Women’s Cricket team’s think tank on the center stage as significant changes will have to be made in the team’s composition.
In order to manage workloads, Alyssa Healy is considering giving up the opening role in the upcoming Ashes.
In the Ashes 2022, she scored 2 Ducks and got out to Katherine Sciver-Brunt in both innings.#CricketTwitter #Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/73cIjK1oHY
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) May 26, 2023
The swashbuckling batter recently told Australian Associated Press that she would like to bat lower down the order in the Ashes Tour of the UK 2023. Healy, who has been the mainstay opener for the Aussies in all formats said she found it taxing to open and keep wickets. In addition to this, she said, she’d be happy to bat lower down the order and whack the old duke’s ball around the park.
Considering the overcast and seamer-friendly conditions prevailing in England, the veteran said that the chances behind the stumps are going to be crucial and so keeping wickets will be her priority. Although, Healy is well aware that this decision will go on to define the team dynamics in the near future as the women’s national team go on to play three tests in the next eight months.
Adding to the saga, former Australian opener Rachael Haynes announced her retirement last year, so the opening combination is already looming in the Australian dugout. Reports suggest that Beth Mooney is favored to step in Trent Bridge and take up Hayne’s spot as opener alongside rising star Phoebe Litchfield who is expected to make her test debut after an invigorating start to her white ball career.
As Australia prepares to take on arch-rivals England on a long British tour, coach Shelley Nitschke alongside the talented bunch of players will look forward to flourishing in British conditions. The women in yellow will look to carry the momentum from the 2022 edition and remain in the driver’s seat.
