Australian captain announces retirement
Alyssa Healy to retire from all forms of cricket after India home series.
Australia will be led by a new captain with news early on Tuesday (13 January) that Alyssa Healy is to retire from all cricket at the end of the home summer.
Healy made the announcement on the Willow Talk podcast she co-hosts, drawing curtains on a 16-year international career.
Healy's retirement from the shortest format is immediate, meaning she will not take part in the three T20Is against India, from 15 to 21 February.
She is, however, set to feature in the ODIs from later in the month as well as the one-off Test of the home multi-format series, beginning on 6 March.
Another World Cup century for Alyssa Healy | Player Highlights | CWC25
Australia captain Alyssa Healy made it two centuries on the trot at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup with an unbeaten 117 against Bangladesh
"It's with mixed emotions that the upcoming India series will be my last for Australia," Healy said in a statement.
"I'm still passionate about playing for Australia, but I've somewhat lost that competitive edge that's kept me driven since the start, so the time feels right to call it a day.
"Knowing I won't be going to the T20 World Cup this year and the limited preparation time the team has, I won't be part of the T20s against India, but I'm excited to have the opportunity to finish my career and captain the ODI and Test side at home against India – one of the biggest series on the calendar for us.
"I'll genuinely miss my teammates, singing the team song and walking out to open the batting for Australia. Representing my country has been an incredible honour and I'm grateful for one last series in the green and gold."
Best of Alyssa Healy | Women's T20WC 2023
Best of Alyssa Healy for Australia at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023
The decision to not play the T20Is gives Australia the chance to prepare for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England and Wales without her, with their first match of that campaign on June 13 in Manchester.
The side play three matches in the format against India and three away in the West Indies before the World Cup, and Australia will be eager to go further than their semi-final defeat in 2024.
There is no certain replacement for Healy as captain across formats. Tahlia McGrath is the current vice-captain, while Ashleigh Gardner and Phoebe Litchfield have been touted as potential candidates.
