Captain Alyssa Healy revealed her decision to hang up the gloves after a decorated career for Australia, which nearly spanned over two decades. The upcoming multi-format series against India will be Healy's last appearance in the green and gold jersey.
Australian skipper Alyssa Healy is not just a name in the world of Women's cricket but rather a sensation. The 35-year-old has, however, decided to hang up her boots after the multi-format series against India in the NRMA Insurance series. She announced the decision on the Willow Talk podcast, a show that she co-hosts with Adam Peacock and former Australian player Brad Haddin.
However, her retirement from the shortest format of the game will take effect immediately, and she won't play T20s for Australia. She would also not be part of the three T20I matches against India in her farewell series. Alyssa Healy has already played her final match in the WBBL.
Australian Captain Alyssa Healy announces retirement ahead of ICC T20 World Cup 2026
The Australian skipper will play all three one-dayers against India (Brisbane, followed by two in Hobart); the WACA Test will be her 299th and final international for Australia. The greatest Australian wicket-keeper ever in Women's cricket history will end her glorious 16-year-long career in Perth.
The decision to skip the T20Is looked selfless, as the skipper wanted the younger girls and the newly appointed captain to have the maximum opportunity to prepare, knowing that she wouldn't be part of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.
"I never really wanted to do it like this; 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 with me not going to the T20 World Cup, it's forced a little bit of change – there's not a lot of T20 cricket leading into that for the girls, so it's probably been placed on me to make a decision in that format and give the opportunity for the girls to prepare for that World Cup in the best possible way, knowing that I'm not going to be there," remarked Healy during her retirement announcement.
A quick revisit to Alyssa Healy's glorious career
Speaking of stats, Alyssa Healy will always be remembered as one of the most legendary players from Australia. The right-handed wicket-keeper batter flaunts a prolific record from behind the stumps with 269 dismissals. She is also one of the most productive batters from the country, with 7106 runs, only behind Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry.
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | HS | Fifties | Hundreds | Catches | Stumpings |
| Tests | 10 | 489 | 30.56 | 99 | 3 | - | 22 | 2 |
| ODIs | 123 | 3563 | 35.98 | 170 | 18 | 7 | 85 | 38 |
| T20Is | 162 | 3054 | 25.45 | 148* | 17 | 1 | 65 | 63 |
| WBBL | 129 | 3125 | 25.82 | 112* | 15 | 5 | 60 | 45 |
One of the founding players of the WBBL and the Sydney Sixers, Alyssa Healy has won the WBBL twice in her career. Healy was named in the WBBL Team of the Decade with 3000 plus runs and a record-equaling five centuries in the tournament.
She also won the Belinda Clark Award in 2019 as the Best Australian player, and she won seven World Cups with Australia, which includes one ODI and six T20I World Cups.
"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," Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said.
Who will fill the void for Australia after Alyssa Healy's retirement?
Alyssa Healy's retirement from all formats of cricket for Australia will be a shocker for them. However, Australia are blessed to have an experienced and prolific glovewoman and opening batter in Beth Mooney. Georgia Voll and Phoebe Litchfield have also made a significant rise at the top of the order.
The only spot that would not have a straightforward selection would be the captaincy role, since Tahila McGrath, as the vice-captain, is a genuine contender, but due to her unconvincing form, Ash Gardner and Phoebe Litchfield are also endorsed as potential options in recent times.
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