"Probably took the wrong risk" - Alyssa Healy on ruling herself out of AUS vs SA Women's T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final
Australia captain Alyssa Healy reckons she might have made an error in judgment by resting herself for the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final against South Africa. The wicketkeeper-batter saw her team lose by eight wickets on Thursday, October 17.
With Healy injuring her foot in the group-stage game against Pakistan, Tahlia McGrath captained Australia for the second consecutive occasion. However, the defending champions succumbed as South Africa brought their A-game to enter the final.
Speaking to reporters after the game, the Queenslander said she tried to make a 'team decision.' Alyssa Healy elaborated (as quoted by Perth Now):
"It was a really hard decision to make last night as to whether or not we’re going to give it a punt or not. I tried to make the ‘team decision’ and sat myself down, instead of taking the risk (of playing against South Africa). I mean, I ruptured my plantar fascia - completely ruptured one and partially ruptured the other."
"So it was just a matter of function and pain and what I could handle, and, ultimately, I probably only had one game in me, and probably took the wrong risk," she added.
With the regular captain missing from the line-up, Beth Mooney kept wickets. Australia made 134/5 in 20 overs but Laura Woolvardt's team needed only 17.2 overs to chase down the target.
"I think there’s been so many positives throughout this tournament" - Alyssa Healy
The veteran cricketer also noted that Australia are a better team than what they displayed in the semi-final against South Africa. She lauded the courageous cricket played by her team throughout the tournament, adding in the same interview:
"One bad night doesn’t necessarily define us as a team. Yes, we’d have loved to win the trophy, but that’s not the case. But I think there’s been so many positives throughout this tournament in the way the girls are growing, learning and continuing to want to get better."
"It’s been awesome, the environment we’ve managed to create, and the belief that we have within our side that anybody can go out there and win the game. It was good to see so many positives throughout the tournament," she added.
The skipper will look to get fit to captain Australia in the upcoming home summer.