The 35-year-old will lead Australia one last time in the three-match ODI series and the single women’s Test in Perth. However, Healy will not participate in the T20I segment of the tour and will miss the T20 World Cup in the UK later this year.
Throughout her illustrious career, Healy has represented Australia in 10 Tests, 123 ODIs, and 162 T20 Internationals, leaving a lasting legacy in all formats. She has accumulated 489 runs in Tests at an average of 30.56, 3,563 runs in ODIs at an average of 35.98, including seven centuries, and 3,054 runs in T20Is at 25.45 with one century to her credit.
A pioneer behind the stumps and at the top of the order, Healy’s aggressive batting style and sharp wicketkeeping have transformed women’s cricket, making her retirement mark the end of an era for Australia.
“It’s with mixed feelings that I announce the upcoming India series will be my last for Australia,” Healy, known for being one of the most explosive batters in women’s cricket, said in a statement.
“I remain passionate about playing for Australia, but I feel I’ve lost that competitive spark that has motivated me from the beginning, so it seems like the right time to step away.
“Knowing I won’t participate in the T20 World Cup this year and considering the limited preparation time for the team, I won’t be taking part in the T20s against India, but I’m thrilled to have the chance to conclude my career and captain the ODI and Test side at home against India — a key series on our calendar.” Healy has been vital to Australia’s dominance in the sport over the past decade.
Having secured eight world titles, including six in T20 and two in one-day formats, the disappointment of losing in the semifinals to the eventual champions in the ODI World Cup last year was a setback for Healy and her teammates.
“I’ll truly miss my teammates, singing the team anthem, and going out to open the batting for Australia. It has been an incredible privilege to represent my country, and I’m thankful for one final series in the green and gold,” said Healy.
In a podcast on Tuesday, Healy shared that coping with injuries in recent years has taken a mental toll on her.
“After several injuries, I had to delve deep into my reserves a few times, and they were becoming less ample, making it increasingly challenging to draw from them again.
“I’ve always had that competitive drive to compete, win, and push my limits on the field. As I’ve aged, I’ve not lost all of it, but I have felt some waning. The WBBL (last year) was a bit of an eye-opener. Not being able to grip the bat with both hands didn’t help, but the reality of waking up and thinking, ‘just another day of cricket,’ genuinely surprised me because I believed I still loved playing,” said the cricketer, who is married to Australia pacer Mitchell Starc.
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg referred to Healy as one of the all-time greats of the sport.
“Alyssa is one of the all-time legends of cricket and has made an invaluable contribution both on and off the field throughout her 15-year career.
“On behalf of Australian cricket, I’d like to express our gratitude to Alyssa and congratulate her on an extraordinary career that has inspired many and positively impacted the game.
“We look forward to celebrating her achievements during the series against India,” said Greenberg.
(With PTI inputs)
