Australian women's cricket captain Alyssa Healy has revealed she will retire from international cricket this March, bringing an end to a glittering 15-year career. The wicketkeeper-batter made the emotional announcement ahead of Australia's multi-format series against India, confessing she has lost the fierce competitive drive that has defined her time at the top.
A Career-Defining Decision
Healy, who made her debut as a teenager, stated that the upcoming contest against India will be her last while wearing the famous green and gold. 'It's with mixed emotions that the upcoming India series will be my last for Australia,' Healy said. '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.'
The 33-year-old confirmed she will not feature in the T20 leg of the series due to the team's limited preparation time for the T20 World Cup later this year. Instead, she will focus on captaining the side in the One-Day Internationals and the Test match on home soil. The series begins with 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 Legacy of Unmatched Success
Alyssa Healy leaves the game as one of its most decorated and influential players. Her career statistics and achievements are remarkable:
- She is set to reach 300 international appearances if she plays five of the matches against India.
- No cricketer, male or female, has taken more catches as a wicketkeeper than Healy, a record she claimed in September 2020.
- She was named the ICC's T20I Player of the Year in both 2018 and 2019.
- Healy has won an incredible eight World Cup titles and holds the record for the highest individual score in a World Cup final.
- Her accolades also include the Belinda Clark Award, a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2022, and leading Australia to an Ashes sweep over England last year.
'I'll genuinely miss my teammates, singing the team song and walking out to open the batting for Australia,' Healy reflected. 'Representing my country has been an incredible honour.'
Cricket Australia Pays Tribute
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg was quick to honour Healy's immense contribution to the sport. '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,' Greenberg stated. '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.'
The governing body confirmed that Healy's landmark career will be celebrated throughout the forthcoming series against India, offering fans a final opportunity to applaud a true legend of Australian sport.
