BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Australia captain Alyssa Healy will retire from international cricket following the upcoming home series against India, bringing to a close a distinguished 15-year career that helped define one of the most dominant eras the women’s game has known.
The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, who made her international debut in 2010, leaves the sport with a record that places her among the all-time greats. Across Tests, one-day internationals and Twenty20 internationals, Healy has scored more than 7,000 runs and completed 275 dismissals behind the stumps, combining explosive batting with elite wicketkeeping over more than a decade at the highest level.
Healy has been central to Australia’s sustained success, winning eight World Cups during her career — six T20 World Cups and two ODI World Cups — and serving as captain since the end of 2023. Her leadership followed years as a senior figure in a team that has consistently set the benchmark in international women’s cricket.
Her individual achievements are equally striking. Healy holds the record for the highest individual score in a Women’s ODI World Cup final, blasting 170 against England in the 2022 final, a performance widely regarded as one of the greatest innings in tournament history. She also owns the record for the highest individual score in a women’s T20 international, smashing an unbeaten 148 against Sri Lanka in 2019, and has more dismissals in T20 internationals than any other player, male or female, with 126.
In announcing her decision, Healy said the upcoming India series would be her final appearance in Australian colours, describing a mix of pride and reflection as she prepares to step away.
She said she remains deeply passionate about representing Australia but acknowledged that the competitive edge that had driven her since the beginning of her career has begun to fade. With Australia already looking ahead to the next T20 World Cup and limited preparation time available, Healy said she would not take part in the T20 matches against India. Instead, she will focus on captaining the one-day international and Test sides at home in what she described as one of the biggest series on Australia’s calendar.
The multi-format series against India begins with three T20 internationals from Feb. 15 to 21, followed by three one-day internationals from Feb. 24 to March 1, before concluding with a four-day Test in Perth from March 6 to 9. If Healy plays in five of those matches, she will reach the milestone of 300 international appearances, a mark achieved by only a select few in the women’s game.
Beyond her on-field impact, Healy has also become a prominent voice in cricket broadcasting, working as a television commentator in recent years, including during the most recent Ashes series, which she missed due to injury. Her profile extends deep into Australian cricket history: she is married to fast bowler Mitchell Starc and is the niece of former Australia wicketkeeper Ian Healy, further cementing her place in one of the country’s most recognizable cricketing families.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg praised Healy’s influence, describing her as one of the game’s all-time greats and crediting her with an immeasurable contribution both on and off the field. He said the organization looks forward to celebrating her achievements throughout the series against India.
As Healy prepares for her final appearances, she leaves behind a legacy defined by power, innovation and success, having reshaped expectations for wicketkeeper-batters and played a central role in Australia’s dominance on the global stage.
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