'It Would Be An Unbelievable Honour': Alyssa Healy Puts Her Hand Up For Australian Captaincy
Published - 04 Oct 2022, 03:18 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:13 AM
Alyssa Healy, the wicketkeeper and opening batter for the Australian women’s cricket team, has stated that she would be honoured to captain the squad.
Veteran Meg Lanning, whose team won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, has taken an indefinite leave of absence, leaving the team without a captain.
Alyssa Healy Ready To Take Captaincy Role
Rachael Haynes, the vice captain, has retired, which might provide room for Healy to take over as captain if Lanning extends her absence into the next year.
“I’ve been vice-captain in the Australian side before and that’s been a great opportunity, but yeah, if the call did come my way there’s no possibility I’d turn it down,” Healy said.
“I think it would be an unbelievable honour and it something that I would really take the challenge of and hopefully leave a mark on the game where I can.”
Prior to travelling to South Africa to defend the T20 World Cup, the women’s team will play Pakistan at home in a series of one-day and T20 Internationals in January of next year.
Healy said that she had given one of the formal leadership positions some thought.
“I’ve given a little bit of thought — I mean it would be rude not to as one of the senior plays in the side — about who they might lean on to take over the reins,” Healy further maintained.
“But, from my point of view I’m looking forward to the WBBL first, and if that phone call comes then you beauty.
“There’s so many leaders within our Australian team and Australian squad at the moment and obviously Meg’s on a bit of a break at the moment, so hopefully she’ll come back and be as fresh as a daisy and want to play a part in the side.
“But I guess from our point of view, I’m sure someone is going to step up take the reins and do a fantastic job.”
The NSW Breakers of the Women’s National Cricket League is presently led by Healy.
The 32-year-old said that because she was travelling abroad, she hadn’t spoken to Lanning recently.
“Last time I spoke to her she seemed to be going really well and hopefully we see her back in the environment sooner,” Healy further stated.
The Way We Function On And Off The Field Is One Of The Big Reasons Why We Are Successful: Alyssa Healy
Alyssa Healy claimed that despite being the team that everyone wants to defeat, the squad had a strong drive to win and defend the T20 World Cup that it won in Melbourne in 2020.
“We go out there to win every game of cricket we possibly can, so it might put a little bit of pressure on us leading into that, but in saying that it doesn’t really change the vibe around the group,” Healy said.
“I mean, you never want to be the team that sort of doesn’t win or lets it down, so I think that drives everyone every single day to just be better
“I think the way we are as a group, I think the way we function on and off the field is one of the big reasons why we are successful, so if we maintain that culture and the values within our side I think it goes a long way to as having success on the field.”
Healy expressed her excitement for watching the games while speaking at a Sydney event to promote the Men’s T20 World Cup, which starts later this month.
“Just seeing the big players out here in our country,” Alyssa Healy remarked.
“We’re such a multicultural nation and I think sporting events like this really showcase that.
“Seeing the best players in the world here in Australia I think it’s a great opportunity for everyone to get out there and witness it.”
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Meg Lanning