‘It’ll be on for all money’: Healy, Devine ready to reignite trans-Tasman rivalry

Mackay will be the host for an historic rivalry to reignite, as the Australian and New Zealand women’s cricket teams battle it out in a pair of T20s. Read what both captains had to say.

Alyssa Healy, captain of Australia and Sophie Devine, captain of New Zealand, in the lead-up to the first of their three-game series at Great Barrier Reef Arena. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Yet another chapter in the storied rivalry between Australia and New Zealand cricket is set to be written at Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena.

The two nations’ women’s teams will take the field on Thursday and Sunday at GBR Arena for a pair of T20 Internationals, the first two of a three-game series in the lead up to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates beginning in October.

“You look at the trophy and it’s six-all between these two sides in past series over the past 15 years, we’ve had some great battles and it’s exciting to play them in a proper series again,” Australian captain Alyssa Healy said.

“They may not have had the results they wanted recently, but we still know they’re more than capable of being a dangerous side.

“It should be loud and bubbly in the crowd over the next few days, we’re looking forward to the locals coming out and supporting their team.”

Australian captain Alyssa Healy. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine said her team was “looking forward to hitting the ground running.”

“I’m looking forward to playing here in Mackay, having played here before in the (Big Bash League), I know there’s a lot of loyal cricket fans around here,” Devine said.

“I’m expecting plenty of chirp from the crowd but we’re looking forward to that, we want people to be engaged and be a part of the sport.”

While the looming shadow of one of the games biggest tournaments is hard to overlook, both captains said the primary focus is on the present and winning this particular series.

“It’s been and interesting balance with how we want to approach this series with an eye also on the World Cup. But first and foremost we’re here to win this series,” Devine said.

MACKAY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 18: Sophie Devine, captain of New Zealand, speaks to the media during a women's T20 International media opportunity at Great Barrier Reef Arena on September 18, 2024 in Mackay, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Healy echoed the sentiments of her counterpart.

“We’ve got three tough international fixtures ahead of us, and at the forefront of mind is winning this series. Yes the World Cup is there and preparation is key for that, but I think looking at this series in isolation it’s an important one for us,” she said.

Neither team has been shying away from the rivalry between these two neighbouring countries, but added that the back-and-forth was good-natured.

“It’s a friendly rivalry but it gets fierce on the field. It’s something that I’ve enjoyed over the last 15 years we’ve been playing against them,” Healy said.

“We share some experiences with them in franchise cricket, but at the end of the day when they pull on the black shirt and we pull on the green and gold it’s on for all money.”

Devine was certainly more than willing to stoke the flames of the trans-Tasman rivalry.

“We need to target Alyssa Healy early because she’s a real prat,” she laughed.

“We’ll be more than happy to give her a bit of lip and see what she can do.”

Both games between Australia and New Zealand at GBR Arena begin at 7.10pm, with the third match to be played at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field on Tuesday evening.

Originally published as ‘It’ll be on for all money’: Healy, Devine ready to reignite trans-Tasman rivalry