Australia’s summer of cricket is shaping up to be a balancing act for star wicketkeeper-batter and captain Alyssa Healy. As she aims to lead her country in the Women’s Ashes series, Healy faces the challenge of managing a serious foot injury that could affect her availability across formats.
In a bid to regain full fitness, Healy has acknowledged the possibility of sitting out parts of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season to ensure she’s ready for the Women’s Ashes series in January.
Healy, who ruptured her plantar fascia in her right foot during the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, in the game against Pakistan, missed critical games in the tournament, including the semi-final. Although she recently made her return to the Sydney Sixers for a match against the Melbourne Stars, Healy admitted that pacing herself may be crucial for the packed summer ahead.
“There’s a higher power sitting above that is quite vocal in what can and can’t happen, which I completely understand,” Healy remarked, recognizing the need for medical supervision as she works toward recovery. “Being skipper as well is a fairly big role for me. I want to be available for as much of the summer as I can.”
Playing for the Sixers holds special meaning for Healy, who has made 117 appearances and scored 2990 runs at a strike rate of 134.74 for the team since the WBBL’s inception in 2015. Reflecting on her limited appearances over the past two seasons, she shared, “I’ve hardly played a game for the Sixers for the past two seasons, and it’s a place I really enjoy playing cricket. I want to be available for every game that I possibly can, but the reality is that might not be the case.”
As Australia’s demanding international season approaches, with an ODI series against India, a tour to New Zealand, and the highly anticipated Women’s Ashes series, Healy recognizes the importance of managing each game carefully. “It’s going to be managing the pain, function and what I can and can’t do (all summer). How I pull up from games is going to be really important as well,” she explained.
Beyond her own challenges, Healy is aware of a generational shift within Australian cricket, with younger players stepping up on both the domestic and international stage. “If you look at international cricket at the moment … and it feels like a bit of a changing of the guard at the moment,” Healy observed. “There are so many young players coming out and showing everyone how good they are, and that’s awesome.”
Acknowledging that Australia’s future squad may soon include fresh talent, she added, “Naturally that’s going to filter into the Australian environment at some point as well. The next T20 World Cup is a couple of years away and there are a lot of us well over the age of 30. What that looks like, I’m not too sure. I think the WBBL is a great breeding ground for the next group of Australian players to say ‘I’m ready.'”
Healy’s leadership and vast experience will be crucial for Australia in the coming months. With a career spanning 281 international matches (9 Tests, 110 ODIs, and 162 T20Is), she has accumulated 6520 runs across formats, including her memorable 170 against England in the Women’s ODI World Cup final in 2022. Her resilience and readiness to guide emerging talents reflect her dedication to the sport and commitment to Australia’s cricketing future.
(Quotes sourced from cricket.com.au)
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