Australia captain Healy to retire from cricket in March
Glenn Moore and Neil Harvey |
Australia captain Alyssa Healy is to retire from cricket in March, after the forthcoming series with India, saying she has lost some of the competitive edge that drove her.
The wicketkeeper-batter has been playing for Australia for 15 years, making her debut as a teenager, and has been full-time captain since Meg Lanning retired in 2023.
Healy, 35, will finish with more than 7000 international runs and 275 dismissals to her name. If she plays five of the seven matches with India she will reach 300 internationals.
Her final match is set to be the sole Test against India in Perth from March 6-9.
Her retirement means Australia will go into the Women’s World Cup, held in England and Wales in June-July this year, with a new captain.
Tahlia McGrath and Ashleigh Gardner are the main contenders to replace Healy with Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland and Phoebe Litchfield other options.
McGrath has been vice-captain since 2023 and has deputised for Healy as skipper on 15 occasions, however she admitted last month she was low on confidence after the toughest period of her career.
Gardner was named captain of Healy’s Sydney Sixers WBBL side this summer and has also captained in the WPL and The Hundred.
Healy, who is married to Australia men’s cricketer Mitch Starc, has been doing media work recently including a podcast she co-hosts.
The Queenslander was awarded the 2019 Belinda Clark Award and twice named ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year.
Alongside Lanning and Ellyse Perry, Healy was one of the key leaders of Australia’s all-conquering era who took the women’s game to new heights.
She was player of the final in the Australia’s 2022 ODI World Cup triumph and also played in six T20 World Cup-winning campaigns.
“It’s with mixed emotions that the upcoming India series will be my last for Australia,” said Healy. “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.
“Knowing I won’t be going to the T20 World Cup this year and the limited preparation time the team has, I won’t be part of the T20s against India, but I’m excited to have the opportunity to finish my career and captain the ODI and Test side at home against India – one of the biggest series on the calendar for us.
“I’ll genuinely miss my teammates, singing the team song and walking out to open the batting for Australia. Representing my country has been an incredible honour and I’m grateful for one last series in the green and gold.”
The series with India features three T20s in Sydney (February 15), Canberra (February 19) and Adelaide (February 21) followed by ODIs in Brisbane (February 24) and Hobart (February 27 and March 1). It concludes with a Test at the WACA in Perth from March 6 to 9.
A founding Sydney Sixers player, Healy compiled more than 3000 runs across 11 seasons in the WBBL and was part of two title-winning sides. She was also part of a remarkable 11 Women’s National Cricket League titles with NSW.
“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 Todd Greenberg, Cricket Australia CEO.
“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.
“We look forward to celebrating her achievements throughout the series against India.”
AAP
