WBBL 2023: Alyssa Healy’s tournament in doubt after freak ‘domestic accident’

Alyssa Healy’s WBBL campaign could be over after the Sydney Sixers star had surgery on a hand injury suffered during what a teammate is calling ‘a pretty vicious dog attack’.

A ‘vicious dog attack’ could spell the end of Alyssa Healy’s WBBL campaign after the freak injury ruled her out of the Sydney Smash against the Thunder.

The Sixers’ wicketkeeper injured her hand at home on Saturday night and required immediate surgery on Sunday.

Initial details of the incident weren’t clear, with the Sixers confirming that it was a “domestic accident”.

However, her Australian teammate Phoebe Litchfield confirmed after the clash that Healy was ruled out due to a dog attack.

“I actually didn’t know until I turned up today so I hope she’s OK,” Litchfield said on Fox Cricket’s The Blast.

“It just sounded like a pretty vicious dog attack, and I don’t know if this is public.

“Just a lacerated finger I’m pretty sure, so hopefully she’s alright and gets all the help she needs.”

Healy’s loss was felt by the Sixers in the 42-run loss to the Thunder. It means last year’s runners-up start the season 0-2, and captain Ellyse Perry suggested that the wicketkeeper has a lengthy recovery period ahead.

“It was a very freak accident,” Perry said. “I’m not across what it was, it was something at home.

“We’re sending lots of thoughts and best wishes to her because she’s going to have a recovery period ahead and it would have been a really awful situation.”

Alyssa Healy posts on Instagram.

Perry confirmed that she had been in touch with Healy since the injury occurred and that she was in good spirits.

Healy took to Instagram herself to thank fans for their well wishes, while also adding a bit of humour to the situation by asking advice on how to tie her hair one-handed.

The 33-year-old could be seen with a major cast on her arm, with only her thumb not encased.

The compact nature of the WBBL means that there are less than six weeks until the end of the competition. Healy will likely miss the rest of the season with the incumbent national captain’s focus turning to recovering ahead of Australia’s multi-format tour of India in December.

“It’s a huge blow,” Perry said. “It’s not just a blow for us, it’s a blow for the tournament because she’s one of the most exciting and mercurial players in the world.

“When you have a player like that missing for a period of time, it’s going to be a blow for our group. She’s a big character and the lifeblood of the team. However long we miss her for, it’s going to be a bummer.”

The injury means that teenager Kate Pelle will assume wicketkeeping duties for the Sixers moving forward.

Pelle played an important role for Australia in this year’s under-19 World Cup in South Africa.

While Perry admitted the late nature of Healy’s injury was slightly disruptive, it wasn’t to blame for the Sixers’ disappointing showing against the Thunder.

“It is disruptive but it doesn’t play a part once you get out on the field,” Perry said.

“The girls were across what was happening with Alyssa. We also had Mathilda Carmichael go down yesterday at training.

“Those things are going to happen across the course of the season. Unfortunately for us, it’s happened in clumps at the moment.”

Originally published as WBBL 2023: Alyssa Healy’s tournament in doubt after freak ‘domestic accident’