Alyssa Healy puts her hand up to be next Australian captain after Meg Lanning’s international retirement
Alyssa Healy will likely miss the entire WBBL season after a freak home accident, but with a leadership void at the top following Meg Lanning’s retirement, when will she be back to fill it?
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Alyssa Healy has confirmed she wants to take on the mantle as the next Australian women’s captain following Meg Lanning’s international retirement.
Healy, 33, has filled in as captain over the past 12 months when Lanning has taken time away from the game.
However, after 10 years in the role Australian selectors are officially looking for the next full-time leader and the experienced wicketkeeper has thrown her hat into the ring.
“I mean, I’ve been filling in in the anticipation that Meg will come back,” Healy said.
“At the end of the day, the decision for who the next skipper is going to be is up to the powers that be. Whether they look long term, whether they look short term, I’m not certain on that.
“I’ve had a nice little taste of it, and yes, 100 per cent I would put my hand up to do it again if called upon … if it’s somebody else, I’ll happily support them in the role as best as I can for the rest of my career.”
As Australia looks to the future, Healy also reflected on the impact Lanning has had on women’s cricket.
With seven World Cups to her name, and five as captain, Healy believes her former teammate will go down as one of the best to ever hold the role.
“We’re obviously sad for her but at the same time, I’m proud of her for making a brave decision like that,” Healy said.
“I’ve been privileged enough to play alongside some of the players that are gonna go down as the greatest ever in the game.
“I felt like I spent my whole career getting out of the way so that Meg could come in and play these amazing innings. I watched all the highlights this week and they’re all me getting out for a duck and a Meg Lanning hundred.
“But I think the way Meg stands out is her leadership … the success rate she had as a skipper and the amount of wins and trophies that we won under her I think is pretty unmatched in the women’s and men’s game. The captaincy just enhanced her skills as a player.
“I think her legacy as a leader within Australian cricket will be remembered for a lot longer than her amazing skills on the field as well.”
Like many, Healy felt that Lanning’s crowning achievement was the 2020 T20 World Cup victory in front of 86,000 people at the MCG.
“The way that her, Rach (Haynes) and (Matthew) Motty handled the group in that regard, yes there was pressure, but no one really felt it,” Healy said.
“I think the little fist bump on the ground when we got over the line against Sri Lanka probably just showed that we were under pressure and that win meant a lot to us and the group.
“Hopefully that’s a tournament that she’s really proud of because she probably shouldered a lot of that for the rest of us.”
With the Australian squad for the multi-format tour of India in December to be named next week, Healy’s attention has been on recovering from her bizarre finger injury suffered at home trying to separate her two dogs.
While there is still no direct timeline for her return to cricket, Healy is confident she will line up to play the Test scheduled to start on December 21 at the Wankhede Stadium.
“In my own head, I’m playing that Test match,” Healy said.
“But it’s all gonna be about how my finger functions and whether I can do by job properly to go out there and play a Test match in India for Australia.
“I’m not too worried about putting the gloves on, I’m actually worried about going out there and batting. I could be the first international cricketer without two index fingers.
“I’ve been reassured by hand therapists that I’m gonna get full function back which I’m really pumped about, and if it means I’m a better top-handed player, then you beauty, my dad’s pretty happy.”
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Originally published as Alyssa Healy puts her hand up to be next Australian captain after Meg Lanning’s international retirement
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