Alyssa Healy ruled out of remainder of WBBL 2024-25; in doubt for white-ball series against India
Australia women's team captain Alyssa Healy has been ruled out of the remainder of the 2024-25 Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) season due to a knee injury. The wicket-keeper batter, representing the Sydney Sixers in the competition, did not keep wickets in the team's recent clash against the Brisbane Heat in Sydney on November 14.
The Sydney Sixers confirmed that Healy will not play the remaining matches through a statement on social media.
"Alyssa Healy has sustained a left knee injury and will be sidelined for the remainder of WBBL|10," the statement read.
Australia are scheduled to host India as part of their home season from December 5 onwards, four days after the 2024-25 WBBL final. This leaves Healy in a race against time to be fit for the three-match ODI series against the Women in Blue. Since the injury is not deemed to be serious, she is expected to be available for the ensuing ODI series against New Zealand, scheduled to begin from December 19 onwards, and the women's Ashes in January 2025.
The squad for the home affairs are slated to be announced in a week's time while the Australia skipper will be assessed until then. Should she be unavailable for those matches, vice-captain Tahlia McGrath will take over the leadership responsibilities.
Healy did not have a WBBL campaign to remember after scoring just 20 runs in four matches, and recording double figures just once. The Sixers are currently placed sixth on the points table with six points after seven matches in the season.
They are next scheduled to face the top-ranked Sydney Thunder in a derby clash on Sunday, November 17.
Alyssa Healy had sustained a foot injury during the latter stages of the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup
The Australian skipper suffered a foot injury while running between the wickets at the Dubai International Stadium during the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup group stage clash against Pakistan. She had to walk off the field and was spotted in crutches after being ruled out of the final group match against India in Sharjah.
She was touch-and-go for the semi-final clash against South Africa, but remained on the bench. Although the wicket-keeper could have been fit enough to play the final, she did not avail the opportunity as Laura Wolvaardt and Co. knocked out the defending champions.
"I want to be available for every game that I possibly can, but the reality is that might not be the case. It's going to be managing the pain, function and what I can and can't do [all summer]. How I pull up from games is going to be really important as well," Healy had said of her injury earlier via ESPN Cricinfo.
She was recently retained by the UP Warriorz for the third season of the Women's Premier League (WPL) despite uncertainty surrounding her captaincy with the franchise.