Sore Healy to rest, vows to lead Aussies at World Cup

Alyssa Healy has vowed to captain Australia’s ODI World Cup defence but is uncertain on her future beyond this year’s tournament.

A sore Healy will soak in the spoils of leading the first women’s Ashes whitewash, before resting a niggling stress injury in her right foot.

After missing the Twenty20 portion of the Ashes, Healy played as a batter-only in Australia’s crushing innings and 122-run annihilation of England in the historic Test at the MCG.

The 34-year-old was no certainty to feature in the pink-ball match right up until the toss due to her foot injury.

Appointed as full-time captain following Meg Lanning’s international retirement in December 2023, part of Healy’s pitch to the Cricket Australia board was being there for the 50-over World Cup.

“I’ve got some thoughts in the back of my mind about what it looks like for me moving forward,” Healy said when asked about her future after Saturday’s triumph.

“When I took on this role I wanted to get us to that ODI World Cup … obviously to hold that trophy at the end of it.

“What I’ve kind of really enjoyed is what we’ve been able to achieve and probably how the group has come along.

“To have played a little bit of a role in that, in helping drive that has been really cool.

“So we’ll wait and see what the future looks like.”

Healy will sit out this year’s WPL in India, as well as Australia’s T20 series in New Zealand in March.

But Australia’s next international matches aren’t until near the lead up to the World Cup in September, giving the veteran plenty of time to rest.

“Unfortunately for me, I’ve got a couple of months with my feet up, so I’m pretty bummed by that,” Healy said.

“But I’m elated to have a little bit of downtime to try and get my body right.

“It’s been a really frustrating 18 months for me.

“The World Cup is going to be a huge load coming off not a lot of cricket for a lot of the girls in the winter.”

Healy admitted the disappointing exit from last year’s T20 World Cup, eventually won by New Zealand, and drawing the last Ashes series in 2023 was a factor in how ruthless Australia were in this series.

Leg-spin maestro Alana King was player of the series for her 23 wickets, including nine in the Test, while allrounder Annabel Sutherland struck a record-equalling third Test century to be named player of the match.