Australia waiting on the fitness of star wicketkeeper-opener Alyssa Healy ahead of semi-final clash

Australia are sweating on the fitness of superstar opener Alyssa Healy, who needs to overcome concussion symptoms suffered a heavy collision in order to play in Friday’s semi-final.

PROVIDENCE, GUYANA - NOVEMBER 17: Alyssa Healy of Australia lies on the wicket injured after crashing into team mate Megan Schutt going for a catch during the ICC Women's World T20 2018 match between India and Australia at Guyana National Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Providence, Guyana. (Photo by Jan Kruger-IDI/IDI via Getty Images)

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Australia will be sweating on the fitness of star opener Alyssa Healy, and for the weather forecast to stay true, for its must-win World T20 semi-final in Antigua on Friday morning (AEDT).

Healy was concussed after a mid-pitch collision with teammate Megan Schutt and was unable to bat as her side suffered a disappointing 48-run loss to India in their final pool game in Guyana.

Wicketkeeper Healy was forced from the ground after copping a shoulder to the head from bowler Schutt as the pair rushed to catch a skied ball from Indian batter Arundhati Reedy.

Ellyse Perry comes to the aide of friend Alyssa Healy after she collided with teammate Megan Schutt going for a catch. Picture: Getty

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Healy immediately went to ground and appeared dazed before she was helped from the field. Experienced keeper and fellow opener Beth Mooney took the gloves.

Healy was assessed by Australia’s medical staff and after being diagnosed with a mild concussion, ruled out from batting. There are no concussion substitutes in international cricket so Australia played a batter short.

“She’s OK at the moment, she’s not feeling great but she’s had a bit of dinner,” Cricket Australia doctor Pip Inge said.

“She’s got a concussion, nothing more complicated, but it’s just now a matter of how quickly does she settle?

“Sometimes it’s really hard to guess…but my hope and my feeling is we’ve got a really good chance to get her back and hopefully we do.”

Meg Lanning says Healy’s health is the most important thing. Picture: Getty

Lanning said Healy’s welfare was paramount.

“She was down on the bench there towards the end of the batting innings. She wanted to bat, but we were just playing that smart. Hopefully she’s good to go.”

While Australia has already qualified for the Antigua semi-finals, the loss to India means the Aussies finished second in Group B and if Friday morning’s semi-final is washed out, they will not qualify for the final as the top ranked side would go through.

The weather forecast for Friday is fine.

Alyssa Healy had been on fire in Australia’s opening three matches. Picture: Getty

Australia will play either West Indies or England at 7am Friday (AEDT).

England and the West Indies meet Monday morning (AEDT) to decide the top-ranked side in Group A.

India had Australia under pressure from the first ball after posting 8-167, led by opener Smriti Mandhana with 83 off 54 balls while nemesis Harmanpreet Kaur was crucial with 43 off 27.

Ellyse Perry was Australia’s best against India, with three wickets and a cameo knock with the bat. Picture: Getty

Elyse Villani opened in the place of Healy but the Australians had no answers and they were all out for 119 in the 20th over.

Ellyse Perry performed the best with the bat finishing not out 39 off 28 balls.

She also took 3-16, bowling her first balls in the eight over of the innings and jagging India’s tailenders.

Victorian tearaway Tayla Vlaeminck made her international T20 debut at the expense of leg spin bowler Georgia Wareham as the Aussie tried to outplay the Indians with pace.

She bowled two overs for nine runs but the highlight of her debut was when she took an absolute screamer at square leg.

Lanning refused to use the loss of Healy as an excuse.

“We know that we’re going to have to chase totals like that if we’re going to win this World Cup,” she said.

“I thought the bowlers did a reasonable job in keeping them to that score.

“I think (the batters) found the field a lot. We probably had too many dot balls and then we were playing big shots, which led to wickets.”

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