Tag: Alyssa Healy

Australia captain Alyssa Healy is set to call time on her international career in March with a home series against India, bringing down the curtain to an illustrious career.

The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has been playing for her country for 15 years, making her debut as a teenager.

She has played almost 300 matches across all formats, blasting more than 7,000 runs and taking 275 dismissals.

“It’s with mixed emotions that the upcoming India series will be my last for Australia,” said Healy, whose husband is Australia’s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc.

“I’m still passionate about playing for Australia, but I’ve somewhat lost that competitive edge that’s kept me driven since the start, so the time feels right to call it a day.

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“Representing my country has been an incredible honour, and I’m grateful for one last series in the green and gold.”

Taking over as full-time Australian captain in 2023 from Meg Lanning, Healy famously led the side to a historic 16-0 whitewash of England.

One of the most destructive batters and finest wicketkeepers in world cricket, she has been part of eight World Cup titles.

“Alyssa is one of the all-time greats of the game and has made an immeasurable contribution both on and off the field over her 15-year career,” said Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg.

“On behalf of Australian cricket, I’d like to thank Alyssa and congratulate her on an incredible career that has inspired so many and changed the game for the better.”

Healy, the niece of Australian Test great Ian Healy, was in the commentary box during the Australian men’s recent 4-1 Ashes thumping of England and is expected to transition to a broadcasting career.

The February-March series with India features three T20s, two one-dayers and a one-off Test in Perth.

Healy will only play the ODIs and the Test.

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Australia women’s captain Alyssa Healy has expressed surprise over the retirement of Cheteshwar Pujara, admitting she believed the Indian batter still had several years of cricket left in him.

Pujara, who played 103 Tests and five ODIs since his debut in 2010, announced his retirement from international cricket on Sunday. His last appearance came in the 2023 ICC World Test Championship final against Australia.

Following his retirement, reactions from the cricket community have been pouring in, and Alyssa Healy has added her voice to the chorus.

Speaking on a YouTube channel, Healy expressed her shock upon discovering that Pujara is only 37 years old.

“It’s interesting, I didn’t realise he was only 37. I felt like he still had numerous years left in him. But if he does go down the media path, it’ll be great to pick his brain on cricket and batting in particular,” she said.

Alyssa Healy also reflected on Pujara’s defining role in India’s back-to-back Test series wins in Australia.

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“He was a huge part of those two series wins. He kept their bowling attack out and drained them, making them work so hard,” she added.

“By the end, they stopped trying to get him out and only targeted the other end because they figured it was too hard.”

For the unversed, Cheteshwar Pujara was named Player of the Series in India’s historic 2018 Test series triumph in Australia, where he scored 521 runs at an average of 74.42, including three centuries.

He was also pivotal in India’s 2-1 victory in 2020, facing 928 deliveries.

Overall, Pujara amassed 7,195 runs in Tests at an average of 43.60, with 19 centuries and 35 fifties to his name.

READ: Rohit Sharma opens up on his sudden retirement from Test cricket

Australia women’s cricket captain Alyssa Healy has shared chilling details of the chaos that unfolded in Dharamsala last week, when rising tensions between India and Pakistan brought the IPL 2025 to an unexpected halt.

The incident occurred on May 8 during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 fixture between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals.

The game was midway through the 11th over when floodlights suddenly went out at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium. Fans were asked to evacuate, and shortly after, the match was suspended.

The next morning, the BCCI announced an immediate suspension of IPL 2025. However, following a ceasefire agreement on May 10, the board confirmed that the tournament will resume on May 17.

Speaking on The Willow Talk podcast, Alyssa Healy, who was in Dharamsala to support her husband, Australia pacer Mitchell Starc, described the disturbing scenes that unfolded.

“It was a surreal experience,” she said. “All of a sudden, a couple of the light towers went out and we were just sitting there up the top…”

“The guy who wrangles our group came up, and his face was white. He said, ‘We need to go right now.’ Another guy grabbed one of the children and repeated the same. We had no idea what was going on.”

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The players and their families were rushed into a holding room inside the stadium.

“All the boys were in there. Faf (du Plessis) didn’t even have shoes on. We were all just looking around, stressed,” she added.

“I asked Mitch [Mitchell Starc] what was happening, and he said, ‘The town 60 km away just got hit by missiles.’ The Dharamsala stadium was basically a beacon, so they shut the power.”

What followed was a hasty and anxiety-filled evacuation. Players, support staff, franchise officials, and broadcasters were bundled into vans and later escorted out of Dharamsala via a special Vande Bharat train arranged by BCCI in coordination with the Ministry of Railways.

Healy recalled that the journey to safety wasn’t any less tense.

“We ended up going southwest towards the border, which was a little bit terrifying,” she further stated.

“Mitch and I have played too much Call of Duty, so we were noticing all the surface-to-air missile sites. A few were just sitting there in small towns, radar-operated systems ready to go.”

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Australia women’s captain Alyssa Healy has expressed her excitement for the upcoming first-ever day-night Test match at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Healy and vice-captain Tahlia McGrath were at the MCG last night to mark six months to go until Australia and England play in the day-night Women’s Ashes Test between January 30 – February 2, 2025.

The match coincides with the 90th anniversary of the first-ever women’s Test Match at the MCG, which was the third Test of the Australia-England series in 1934-35.

“We can’t wait to play the first-ever day-night Test at MCG. It’s going to be a special occasion as we honour the 90th anniversary of the first women’s Test series under lights at this iconic venue,” said Alyssa Healy.

“We are preparing for a big summer including the ICC T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, white ball series at home against New Zealand and India culminating with the multi-format Ashes series. We hope the Australian fans get behind us as we take on some tough rivals this summer.”

CEO of Cricket Australia (CA) Nick Hockley also called it a historic occasion, while also praising the national women’s team.

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“It’s amazing to think that in just six months our brilliant Australian Women’s team will light up the MCG for the historic first day-night Test at the world-renowned venue,” said Nick Hockley.

“The Women’s Ashes will not only be a great sporting event between fierce rivals, it will add to the list of iconic sporting events held in Melbourne and I’m grateful to the Victorian Government and the Melbourne Cricket Club for their strong support.

“Our women’s team is one of the most successful in sporting history and this series promises to be a landmark occasion for Australian sport.”

“The MCG hosted the first-ever international Test Match in 1877, the first-ever One-Day International match in 1971 and saw over 86,000 for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Final between Australia and India in 2020,” said Melbourne Cricket Club, manager of the MCG, CEO Stuart Fox.

“Now we have the opportunity to host our first-ever day-night Test which is sure to become another important moment in the MCG’s storied history.

“It is extremely special that this milestone falls with a Women’s Ashes Test, a series beloved at the MCG, and while marking the 90th anniversary of hosting our first Women’s Test.”

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Star wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy was Saturday appointed Australia’s women’s cricket captain across all three formats after the retirement of long-time skipper Meg Lanning.

The 33-year-old has led Australia since June in series against England, Ireland and West Indies, and has now been handed the role full-time.

Tahlia McGrath, fresh from leading the Adelaide Strikers to consecutive women’s Big Bash League titles, was named vice-captain and at 28 is positioned to eventually take over from Healy.

“I am honoured to accept the role of captain and am grateful for the opportunity to lead our team,” said Alyssa Healy, who is married to Australian men’s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc.

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“I’ve really enjoyed the support of the players over the past few months and their encouragement to continue to be who I am and lead the group like I normally would from within.”

“It’s an exciting time to be involved with this team, we’re seeing the emergence of incredible young talent and are challenging ourselves to continually evolve as a group,” she added.

Lanning retired from the international game last month after almost a decade in charge, leading Australia to four Twenty20 World Cup titles, one 50-over World Cup triumph and a Commonwealth Games gold.

“Alyssa brings a wealth of experience to the role, and we have great confidence in her ability to successfully lead the Australian women’s team in tandem with Tahlia as vice-captain,” said Cricket Australia’s executive general manager Ben Oliver.

Lanning will continue to play in domestic competitions.

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Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning welcomed the upcoming season of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in a unique fashion as they took the trophy to the Sydney Tower Eye, standing at 1,014 feet high.

Meg Lanning, the Melbourne Stars’ captain, expressed her excitement for the upcoming season of WBBL.

“Never before have I been to such staggering heights. It’s super exciting, and I can’t wait for the tournament to begin,” said Lanning.

Meanwhile, Alyssa Healy of Sydney Sixers praised the enduring appeal of the WBBL after nine years.

“It’s nice to see that after all this time, the WBBL is still as thrilling as ever,” said Healy.
Lanning also applauded the inclusion of cricket in the Olympics, calling it a monumental decision.

“I’m glad to see cricket being included in the Olympics. It’s a monumental leap that will undoubtedly elevate the game to new heights.”

Alyssa Healy, who has participated in the Women’s IPL previously, shared her excitement about the growing opportunities for women’s cricket worldwide.

She also expressed her wish to witness more Indian players participating in the WBBL while emphasizing the league’s commitment to inclusivity and its potential to further diversify the talent pool.

WBBL season 09 is scheduled to commence on 20 October, Friday from North Sydney Oval where Sydney Sixers will face off against Melbourne Stars in the opening game.

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SYDNEY: Australia’s star wicket-keeper batter Alyssa Healy has been ruled of the home T20I series against Pakistan as she continues her recovery from a calf injury sustained during Australia’s recent tour of India. 

Cricket Australia on Friday confirmed that Healy is expected to return in the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup in February after missing three T20Is against Pakistan.

However, she will remain with the squad during the home series as she continues her rehabilitation.

Australia named their T20I squad for the Pakistan series and the showpiece event in South Africa earlier this week. Meg Lanning, the team’s captain, will play in her first international match since August 2022, and leg spinner Georgia Wareham, is returning to the lineup after her previous T20I appearance in October 2021.

Australia will play three ODIs and as many T20Is against Pakistan, commencing on January 16.

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