Alyssa Healy got through training but is still in some doubt for opening clash with South Africa

The Australian captain couldn;t do her pre-match media conference on Friday and is no certainty for a World Cup final rematch.

Ill Australian captain Alyssa Healy could miss Saturday’s World Cup final rematch with South Africa in the first T20 in Canberra.

The skipper wasn’t able to do her pre-match press conference but vice-captain Tahlia McGrath, who will fill her shoes should Healy miss the match, was confident the captain was “on the mend” and every chance to take the field on Saturday.

The big-hitting wicket-keeper was unwell on Friday morning but did train in the afternoon in a positive sign that she will be available to play.

Healy was scheduled to speak to reporters 24 hours before the first of three T20s against South Africa, but was replaced by McGrath who provided an update on her condition.

“She’s certainly on the mend. She’s improving today,” McGrath said on Friday afternoon.

“She’s going to train lightly with us today and then a final decision will be made in the morning around her availability but we expect her to, fingers crossed, come up and be out there running up for us.”

Losing Healy would be a blow for the number one ranked country in the world, but the past few years have shown that they’ve got a core group of players ready to stand up no matter the situation to get Australia over the line.

“We’re pretty lucky,” McGrath said, with Beth Mooney the logical replacement behind the stumps.

Phoebe Litchfield is coming off a terrific tour of India. Picture: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images

“We’re spoiled for choice in the fact that we’re not reliant on any one player and if anyone goes down we’ve got numerous options to cover with bat, captaincy, gloves, so we’re spoiled for choice.

“Lots of players play different roles for their Big Bash franchises and we’re a very team-first side so whatever the team requires on the day we feel as though we’ve got all options covered.”

If Healy is ruled out then young gun Phoebe Litchfield would likely open the batting having batted in the middle-order during the recent T20 series in India.

Litchfield has long been touted as the future of Australian cricket, and she realised that potential in the subcontinent where she smashed 119 in an ODI and shared a 189-run opening stand with Healy.

“She’s been an enormous talent for numerous years, identified on what was a cover drive that went viral,” McGrath said just days after Litchfield was named the ICC’s Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year.

Australia beat tournament hosts South Africa at last year’s World Cup. Picture: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images

“But it’s been really special to watch her journey and especially how well she did over in India. She’s one of the hardest workers in our team, and is extremely hard on herself always striving to be better.

“She is an exceptional talent and is a huge part of our side and I expect her to continue to flourish and score plenty of runs for Australia.”

The three-game series against South Africa will be a rematch of last year’s T20 World Cup final which the Aussies won in enemy territory, with both teams to start ramping up their preparations for the next World Cup in Bangladesh.

“I think it’ll be nice to have an extended run against the Aussies, I think we’ve always just come up against them for a game here or there in World Cups, so we’re definitely looking forward to the challenge,” South African captain Laura Wolvaardt said, with the teams to also play three ODIs and a Test match next month.

“They are the world champions and it’s their own backyard. But I think we’ve prepared well and hopefully it goes all right.”

Originally published as Alyssa Healy got through training but is still in some doubt for opening clash with South Africa