Australia captain Alyssa Healy has confirmed she’s going to play as a specialist batter within the upcoming ODI sequence towards New Zealand, marking her return from a knee harm that prematurely ended her WBBL season. The star opener, who missed Australia’s 3-0 ODI sequence sweep over India, is on observe to function within the first recreation in New Zealand on December 19. Nonetheless, Healy is not going to don the wicketkeeping gloves, as her left knee harm limits her skill to crouch for prolonged durations.
Beth Mooney will take over the wicketkeeping duties, with Healy specializing in contributing with the bat and fielding at first slip.
Talking on the Willow Discuss Podcast, Healy defined her determination. “I am eager to play and I will be doing every little thing to get on the sector, (however) I will not be protecting. That is the place my knee’s at, and the issue is getting down into these positions,” she stated.
The 34-year-old added that she’s excited to get again to motion however acknowledged she would possibly must mood expectations about her fielding abilities.
“I am terrified by the prospect as a result of I overrate my fielding. I believe I am actually good, however I am not. I am not Beth Mooney, and I do know that, so I’ve simply received to place myself in not-hotspots,” Healy joked.
Regardless of her challenges, Healy expressed willpower to play, notably with restricted alternatives for recreation time earlier than the extremely anticipated Ashes sequence, which begins subsequent month in Sydney.
Healy’s absence as wicketkeeper through the India sequence allowed younger expertise Georgia Voll to shine. Voll scored a sensational century within the second ODI and paired properly with Phoebe Litchfield on the prime of the order. Though Voll suffered a minor knee harm within the third recreation, reviews recommend she is match and prepared for the New Zealand sequence.
Australia’s unimaginable squad depth gives reassurance to Healy as she continues her restoration. “We have unimaginable depth inside our squad, so if one thing does go mistaken and I want an additional break day, we have the protection there,” she stated.
Reflecting on her latest string of accidents, together with a tournament-ending foot concern through the T20 World Cup, Healy admitted there’s some stress about her physique’s sturdiness late in her profession.
“I believe there’s a component of stress to it, however on the similar time I am actually blessed that I can play a number of roles for the aspect,” she stated. “Later in my profession, I wish to nonetheless be enjoying as a lot cricket as I can. Sadly, my physique is saying ‘no.'”
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
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