Captain Alyssa Healy revealed her decision to step down from captaincy for Australia after a career spanning almost two decades. The upcoming multi-format series against India will be Healy’s last appearance in the green and gold jersey.
Australian captain Alyssa Healy is not just a name but a sensation in the world of women’s cricket. However, the 35-year-old has decided to retire after the multi-format series against India in the NRMA Insurance Series. She announced the decision on the Willow Talk podcast, a show she co-hosts with Adam Peacock and former Australian player Brad Haddin.
However, her retirement from the shortest format of the game will be effective immediately, and she will not play T20 for Australia. She will also not be a part of the three T20 matches against India in her farewell series. Alyssa Healy has played her last match in the WBBL.
Australian captain Alyssa Healy announces retirement ahead of ICC T20 World Cup 2026
The Australian captain will play all three ODIs against India (Brisbane, followed by two in Hobart); The WACA Test will be his 299th and final international Test for Australia. The greatest ever Australian wicketkeeper in the history of women’s cricket will end her 16-year long career in Perth.
The decision to skip the T20Is seemed selfless, as the captain wanted the young girls and the newly appointed captain to get maximum opportunity to prepare, knowing that she would not be a part of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.
“I never really wanted to do it that way; I never wanted to announce it. I just wanted to get to the end of the Test match and hang up my boots and celebrate.
“But it’s had to change a bit with me not going to the T20 World Cup – there’s not a lot of T20 cricket for girls, so perhaps the onus has been put on me to make decisions in that format and give the girls the opportunity to prepare for that World Cup in the best possible way, knowing I’m not going there,” Healy said during the announcement of her retirement.
A quick look at Alyssa Healy’s illustrious career
Talking about statistics, Alyssa Healy will always be remembered as one of Australia’s greatest players. The right-handed wicketkeeper batsman has made an impressive record with 269 dismissals from behind the stumps. She is one of the most productive batsmen in the country after Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry with 7106 runs.
| Format | Matchbox | it goes | average | HS | the fifties | hundreds | catch | stumping |
| tests | 10 | 489 | 30.56 | 99 | 3 | – | 22 | 2 |
| ODI | 123 | 3563 | 35.98 | 170 | 18 | 7 | 85 | 38 |
| t20i | 162 | 3054 | 25.45 | 148* | 17 | 1 | 65 | 63 |
| wbbl | 129 | 3125 | 25.82 | 112* | 15 | 5 | 60 | 45 |
Alyssa Healy, one of the founding players of the WBBL and Sydney Sixers, has won the WBBL twice in her career. Healy was named in the WBBL Team of the Decade with over 3000 runs in the tournament and a record-equalling five centuries.
She also won the Belinda Clark Award as the best Australian player in 2019 and has won seven World Cups with Australia, including one ODI and six T20 World Cups.
“Alyssa is one of the game’s all-time greats and has made immeasurable contributions on and off the field throughout her 15-year career,” Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said.
Who will fill Australia’s void after Alyssa Healy’s retirement?
Alyssa Healy’s retirement from all formats of cricket will be a shock for Australia. However, Australia is fortunate to have an experienced and prolific glovewoman and opening batsman in Beth Mooney. Georgia Woll and Phoebe Litchfield have also made notable strides at the top of the order.
The only position that will not be a direct selection will be the captaincy role, as Tahila McGrath is a genuine contender as vice-captain, but due to their inconsistent form, Ash Gardner and Phoebe Litchfield have also been touted as potential options in recent times.
Also read: Delay in retirement! Virat Kohli suggests extending international career beyond 2027 World Cup
