<
        >

          Healy in doubt for rest of Ashes series as she misses first T20I

          Alyssa Healy was off to a brisk start Getty Images
          • Andrew McGlashan, Deputy editor, ESPNcricinfoJan 20, 2025, 09:26 AM
            Close
              Deputy Editor Andrew arrived at ESPNcricinfo via Manchester and Cape Town, after finding the assistant editor at a weak moment as he watched England's batting collapse in the Newlands Test. Andrew began his cricket writing as a freelance covering Lancashire during 2004 when they were relegated in the County Championship. In fact, they were top of the table when he began reporting on them but things went dramatically downhill. He likes to let people know that he is a supporter of county cricket, a fact his colleagues will testify to and bemoan in equal quantities.

          Australia captain Alyssa Healy is a significant doubt for the remainder of the Ashes series after she was ruled out of the first T20I with a "stress response" in her foot on the same side as the injury she sustained at last year's T20 World Cup

          It meant that Australia were led by Tahlia McGrath as they aimed to go 8-0 up and retain the Ashes in Sydney while the top-order vacancy was filled by Georgia Voll and Beth Mooney will keep wicket.

          Australia also had to contend with allrounder Ash Gardner being ruled out with a calf injury. She will be assessed again ahead of the second T20I in Canberra.

          The injury to Healy meant that Australia pushed back announcing their squad for the day-night Test at the MCG which had been due to be named during the T20I on Monday.

          "Alyssa has got a stress response in her foot," head of high performance Shawn Flegler told Fox Cricket. "We're going to try and get a little bit more information before we make a call on her. It's a big call for Alyssa. Test captain as well. So we'll wait and see on what we come up with over the next 24-48 hours."

          "We've got a selector meeting tomorrow morning. We'll see what plays out. We're not going to rush into it. There's still a week or so before the Test match

          After returning from the plantar fascia injury sustained at the World Cup, Healy had her WBBL cut short by a knee problem which also meant she played as a batter only in the ODIs against New Zealand in December having missed the earlier home series against India.

          She returned to keeping duties for the three ODIs against England with the matches taking place in six days. The schedule is also tight for the T20I series with games in Canberra on January 23 then Adelaide on January 25.

          Even if Healy is able to play a part in either of those, there will be major questions over whether she can sustain the workload of a Test match, especially as a wicketkeeper.