Australian cricketer Alyssa Healy on juggling career and her dogs, Misty and Millie

With commitments to the Women’s World Cup, Australian cricketer Alyssa Healy enjoys spending quality time with those who matter most – her dogs Misty and Millie.

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Dressing room pest. Laidback joker. Women’s One Day and T20 International Player of the Year, Mitchell Starc’s wife … and mum to Millie and Misty.

Alyssa Healy wears many hats but arguably the role she is most passionate about involves her five-and-half-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

After all, with a nod to photographer Roger Caras, dogs are not our whole lives but they make our lives whole.

Australian Cricketer Alyssa Healy with one of her beloved staffies.

“With Mitch (who plays in the Australian men’s team) and I away so much … we kind of take it in turns and it’s always nice to come home to them – particularly when Mitch is touring and I am at home,” Healy said.

“They’re always so excited to see you … it doesn’t matter what has happened during the day, they’re just pumped that you’re home.

“Being on the northern beaches, we have dog beaches and parks galore.

“They love it particularly North Curl Curl. They love the lagoon which is problematic for us because we have to bathe them regularly.”

Misty and Millie, couch surfers and wannabe sushi diners, are sisters from the same litter and they follow in the pawsteps of previous Staffies for Healy.

“We had a Staffie just before these two … she got old and we had to put her down. She was the best dog, robust and loving and fun … the perfect dog,” Healy said.

“There was never any doubt that we would get another Staffie.”

With the 29-year-old a key player for the Australian women’s team during this month’s ICC T20 Women’s World Cup, Millie and Misty are looking at spending some quality time with extended family.

“My mum and dad love taking them but if my mom and dad are touring around following the team, Mitch’s siblings live around the corner and they love to babysit,” she said.

“They are really easy to look after … they are super friendly, a little chaotic perhaps, but friendly.

“But they much prefer the company of people. They are really the snobbiest dogs – at the dog park, they go and say ‘hi’ but they won’t play with other dogs – like to play among themselves. Or with us.

“Which I guess means less trouble for us!”

Originally published as Australian cricketer Alyssa Healy on juggling career and her dogs, Misty and Millie