Alyssa Healy has announced that she will retire from all cricket after Australia’s upcoming home series against India.
Her retirement makes an opening for a new player to take on the reins as captain of the most successful side in the world over the last decade. It’s an interesting point for Healy to step away. There are only six months before the T20 World Cup where Australia will be desperate to wrestle back one of the ICC trophies they no longer hold. Having won three consecutive T20 World Cups, a 50-over World Cup and Commonwealth Games gold from 2018 to 2023, they were beaten in the semi-finals of both of the latest editions, showing that while still strong, their armour is not as impenetrable as it once was.
Healy is one of the last remaining players whose career spanned the complete period of Australia dominance. She made her debut in 2010 playing alongside the likes of Lisa Sthalekar and Shelley Nitschke, and won the first of her eight ICC titles that year. More recently, she has overseen the regeneration of the side following Meg Lanning’s retirement, and the successful introduction of the next generation of Australia stars like Annabel Sutherland and Phoebe Litchfield.
Nevertheless, consistent struggles with injuries and a log-jam at the top of the order signal that it’s time to move on. Here are the candidates who could oversee that transition, and move the side into its next incarnation.
Tahlia McGrath
At first glance, McGrath would seem the obvious choice. She’s the de-facto vice captain, and has led the side on several occasions over the last year when Healy has been sidelined with injury. However, her recent form might give Australia’s selectors some cause for concern. Last year, she averaged 15.88 in nine ODI innings, and had a poor recent WBBL campaign with the bat captaining Adelaide Strikers. In a recent interview, she admitted that her recent form slump has been one of the toughest periods of her career, and that she chose not to enter the WPL auction in order to try and re-find her form in the 50-over format in the WNCL ahead of the series against India.
While McGrath would be the continuity pick, the timing doesn’t feel right. Elevating a player searching for form would add another layer of heat on their performances, especially in a side where players are constantly under pressure for their places from those coming up behind.
Ash Gardner
The other frontline pick would be Gardner – she ticks every box. Currently leading the Gujarat Giants in the WPL, she also captains Sydney Sixers in the WBBL, a side in which Healy also plays. As one of the best all-rounders in the world, a senior figure in Australia’s side, and a key figure across all-formats, and aged 28 about to enter her prime playing years, she would make the most sense to replace Healy. If appointed, she would also be the first indigenous player named captain of Australia across formats – a poignant moment both personally and for Australian Cricket.
Annabel Sutherland
Sutherland is undoubtedly a future Australia captain, the question to ask is whether now is her time or will it be when the job comes up again? She’s shown over the last two years that she is the stand-out young player in the world across all formats, and has fought her way into a side packed with all-rounders by carving out her own niche as both a solid source of runs at any position in the order, and someone who can be counted upon for devastating spells with the ball. Not only that however, her maturity and stature well beyond her 24 years, as well as being part of one of Australia’s cricketing dynasties, make her a clear leader on and off the field. She was part of a leadership programme run by Cricket Australia and headed by Belinda Clark where a group of players were given extra support in honing their leadership skills. She was also chosen to captain Melbourne Stars aged just 23, despite the presence of Meg Lanning in the squad.
Perhaps it is too soon for Sutherland, too much too early for a player earmarked for greatness who will have a long career to fulfill all of her ambitions. However, if selected, Sutherland has the potential to lead Australia for a long time as an option to bring a period of continuity.
Phoebe Litchfield
It does feel too soon for a Phoebe Litchfield captaincy era, although she is likely technically a candidate. She already leads Sydney Thunder in the WBBL and has been earmarked as future Australia captain. However, at 22, the leadership of a side filled with players far older and more experienced than her would likely be an overcomplication for both player and team. Nevertheless, Healy’s retirement could mark a new phase of Litchfield’s career, where she moves up the leadership ladder to perhaps be in prime position when the job comes up again.
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