Alyssa Healy is set to lead Australia on the Indian tour in December after the star wicketkeeper was named vice-captain of the women’s team on Thursday.
Healy succeeds Rachael Haynes, who retired from international cricket last month. With World Cup-winning captain Meg Lanning still on indefinite hiatus, Healy could don the skipper’s cap for the team’s next assignments, which will include five T20s in India ahead of the home series against Pakistan and the T20 World Cup in South Africa next year.
Lanning had taken an indefinite hiatus to focus on herself after Australia’s successful Commonwealth Games campaign saw them win the title in August. “It is a privilege to have been offered the position of vice-captain of any Australian team, let alone a team that has been as successful as this,” Healy said as quoted by cricket.com.au. “Rach has been instrumental in supporting Meg as well as promoting the values and culture of the team and while she leaves big shoes to fill, I look forward to helping lead this team to the alongside Meg and Shell.
“It’s a really exciting time to be involved with this team; we’ve seen personnel changes as well as the emergence of some incredible young talent, and with a T20 World Cup and away ashes fast approaching, I can’t wait to tackle this next chapter of my career . The 32-year-old is not new to the role having served as a temporary vice-captain in the multi-format series against India last year in Haynes’ absence.
“We are delighted that Alyssa has agreed to take on the role of vice-captain and look forward to the contribution she can make in tandem with Meg,” said Shawn Flegler, Head of Performance, Women’s Cricket and National Coach. .
“Alyssa is an exceptional leader on and off the court and brings a wealth of experience to this position. “We have great faith in Alyssa, Meg and Shelley leading the team through an exciting 12 months which will see the team defend their T20 World Cup title and seek to retain the Ashes on English soil. ” Last month, Shelly Nitschke was named the team’s new full-time coach.
CA also announced that Dan Marsh and Scott Prestwidge would be Nitschke’s new assistants. “Dan and Scott are high quality coaches and we are thrilled to have them join Shelley and the team,” said Flegler. “Both have spent time with the group before, are highly respected and bring complementary skills, knowledge and experience.
“Dan was pivotal in working with the spinners during the Commonwealth Games and Scott provided support to the fast bowlers on a number of occasions, it’s great to have them on board full time.”
