Alyssa Healy continues to manage knee injury ahead of Ashes series

Australian captain Alyssa Healy has left the door open to an unfamiliar role during next month’s blockbuster Ashes series.

An ongoing knee concern means Australian captain Alyssa Healy is no certainty to take back the wicketkeeping gloves during next month’s blockbuster Ashes series.

Healy planned to test her troublesome knee behind the stumps in a warm-up game for the Governor-General’s XI against England on January 9 three days before the series opener.

But the skipper left the door open for Beth Mooney to keep the gloves during the multi-format series as both were locked into a 14-player squad for the limited overs games.

After missing the successful New Zealand series with a knee injury, Sophie Molineux was the key absentee from the squad as Cricket Australia confirmed she would undergo surgery in January.

All-rounder Heather Graham was omitted after touring in New Zealand, with young opener Georgia Voll holding her spot in the squad after a superb debut campaign against India.

All-rounder Sophie Molineux (centre) will miss the Ashes as she undergoes surgery on her left knee following an injury suffered in the white-ball series against India. Picture: James Worsfold / Getty Images

Voll was not called upon in New Zealand as Healy returned to the top of the order as a specialist bat, but the captain said it was exciting to have the powerful right-hander ready to go if needed during the Ashes.

“A little bit frustrating for myself personally, because every time someone comes in to take my spot they’ve made runs,” Healy joked.

“(But) it’s been amazing, and I think just to see the depth in Australian cricket is there and young players in particular.

“It’s been exciting to have (Voll) along for the ride, and obviously to be selected in this squad is justice for what she’s done this summer.”

Healy said it would be challenge to keep her knee healthy through the series, suggesting it was no guarantee she would take back the gloves.

“(To keep is) the plan – obviously (I’m) named in the Governor-General’s squad and that will be a great opportunity for me to take the gloves for a little bit and see how everything is progressing,” she said.

Australian captain Alyssa Healy (right) and head coach Shelley Nitschke will be looking to help the Aussies retain the women’s Ashes for an equal-record six consecutive series. Picture: Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images

“It’s kind of play it by ear at the moment to see how everything pulls up, but I did thoroughly enjoy running around the field in New Zealand, so if that’s the option and it’s less disruptive to our side, then that could be the way moving forward.

“My main niggle concern at the moment is my knee, and having an angry joint in there and flaring that up … that will be the real test in the next 10 days moving into the series, as to how that pulls up, how that responds to me keeping again.”

Top-order option Grace Harris was named for the three T20 games only, leaving 13 players to choose from for the opening 50-over games with a squad for the historic MCG day-night Test still to come.

Healy said the delay naming the Test squad was partly to ensure Australia found the right bowling mix based on the conditions and domestic form.

It left the door open for the likes of left-arm quick Lauren Cheatle, who played in last year’s Test in India, or WA teenager Chloe Ainsworth to figure in the longer format.

“I think you look at the way we’ve shaped up in Test cricket over the last couple of seasons, it’s looked a little bit different to what we’ve done in the white-ball format,” Healy said.

“We’ll probably look at that over the next few weeks just to see where all the bowlers in domestic cricket are at and their loads … and how they’re going to prepare for a Test match.

“Knowing it’s pink-ball, knowing it swings a little bit more and what the conditions are going to be like, I think there’s a few players around the country at the moment that could stick their hand up for a baggy green.”

Australia’s ODI and T20I Ashes Squad

Alyssa Healy (c,wk), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham, Grace Harris (T20s only)

FIXTURE

January 12: 1st ODI, North Sydney Oval

January 14: 2nd ODI, Junction Oval

January 17: 3rd ODI, Bellerive Oval

January 20: 1st T20I, SCG (N)

January 23: 2nd T20I, Manuka Oval (N)

January 25: 3rd T20I, Adelaide Oval (N)

January 30 – Feb 2: Ashes Test, MCG (D/N)

Multi-format scoring system: Teams get two points for an ODI or T20I win and four points for a Test victory. Australia retained the urn in 2023 after the series was drawn 8-8.

Originally published as Alyssa Healy continues to manage knee injury ahead of Ashes series