Alyssa Healy in big retirement backflip as Aussie captain makes major career call
Alyssa Healy says she's backflipped on the idea of retirement after revealing plans to play on well beyond this year's Women's ODI World Cup. The Aussie captain is set to return from a frustrating injury spell for Australia A in matches against India A this August, having been largely relegated to the role of spectator in 2025 while her husband and fellow cricket star Mitchell Starc starred for the men's side.
The matches in August will mark Healy's first games since Australia's successful Ashes campaign at the start of the year, when she was sidelined with a stress fracture in her foot. The injury meant the Aussie wicketkeeper missed some games or didn't feature behind the stumps in others.
It continued an injury-plagued 12 months for the 35-year-old, who also missed the finals of last year's T20 World Cup with the foot problem and saw her WBBL season ended prematurely with a separate knee issue. Healy then sat out ODIs in New Zealand and the WPL in India as a result of her injuries, but returned to fitness in March.
And after admitting that she's joked about hanging up the gloves several times already, Healy says the break from the game has led to a re-think about her retirement plans. Healy previously suggested that this year's ODI World Cup could be her international swansong but says the extended break from the sport has only left her hungrier to achieve more.
"It's probably shifted a little bit," Healy told AAP about her retirement plans. "It's made me realise that I still want to do a little bit more than maybe what I thought. At the same time, sometimes there's stuff in life that are a little bit more important than pulling on the green and gold.
"So it's just a constant reassess. But at the moment I definitely want to play a home summer. I want to bring the World Cup home, but also to play against India (in February-March)." Healy's Aussies are aiming to become the first side to win back-to-back ODI World Cups in almost 40 years, with the tournament kicking off in India in just over 100 days.
RELATED:
South Africa get last laugh as Aussie sledge backfires badly
Pat Cummins' key confession after rival admits to 'dodgy' act
The defending champs have undergone a period of transition since legendary former Aussie captain Meg Lanning's retirement in 2022. Lanning oversaw a thoroughly dominant period in Australian cricket and ever since taking over the captaincy, Healy admits she's had one eye fixed on this year's World Cup to try and continue the domination.
"That was one of my goals, putting a timeline on it and saying this is where I could take this group, even not knowing what I was going to do personally," Healy said. "It definitely was a big focus of mine, to get the group to a place to compete at this World Cup, and win the trophy.
"It's not so much about the captaincy (driving me), or ticking one more box. It's just that I want to win a World Cup for Australia, and no one has gone back-to-back, which is a real motivator." Healy has not kept wicket in a match since January, but is confident the Australia A matches, followed by an ODI series in India will have her match-fit for as many as nine World Cup matches in 32 days.
Despite a lengthy absence from cricket, Healy has still kept busy in the sport through various overseas commentary roles and her regular spot on the Willow Talk cricket podcast. Healy and Starc were also among dozens of Aussies who flew home from India when the IPL was suspended in May due to tensions with neighbouring Pakistan.
with AAP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
U.S. flag football players want to end the 'us vs. them' narrative with NFL
U.S. quarterback Darrell Doucette, right, scores a touchdown against Australia during the USA Football Summer Series at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times) Darrell Doucette didn't mean any disrespect. All the U.S. flag football star wanted to do in an interview that went more viral than any of his numerous highlights was to fight for his sport. So when he told TMZ in 2024 that he is 'better than Patrick Mahomes' at flag football for his IQ of the sport, the generally soft-spoken Doucette wasn't trying to issue any challenges. Watch the two-time world champion throw touchdowns, catch them, snap the ball and play defense all in the same game and it's clear he prefers to let his game speak. Advertisement 'It wasn't about me vs. them,' said Doucette, who is known in the flag football world by his nickname 'Housh.' 'It was about flag football, putting eyes on this game.' With preparations ramping up for the 2028 Olympics, flag football just wants its respect. Respect for the sport that is no longer just a child's stepping stone to tackle football. Respect for its established players who have already won every tournament there is and have eyes for more. U.S. wide receiver Isabella "Izzy" Geraci runs with the ball during a game against Australia at the USA Football Summer Series at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times) 'It's not your mom's flag football anymore,' said Callie Brownson, USA Football's senior director of high performance and national team operations. Flag football has graduated out of backyards and into the Olympics, where the sport will debut in L.A. More than 750 athletes from 10 countries from the youth level to senior national teams gathered at Dignity Health Sports Park last weekend to preview the Olympic future at USA Football's Summer Series, where the U.S. men's and women's national teams played friendlies against Canada, Australia, Germany and Japan. Advertisement The sport's growth domestically and internationally came in part through major investment from the NFL, and the league could play a major role in the Olympics: NFL players are allowed to participate in Olympic competition. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was among the NFL stars who immediately took notice as the NFL most valuable player said he would 'absolutely love' to play if given the opportunity. Doucette loved hearing the conversation. The New Orleans native grew up playing the sport when seemingly no one else bothered to care. To hear NFL players taking an interest now? It feels like all he ever wanted. 'We're welcoming those guys,' Doucette said. 'We don't have no issue with it. We just want a fair opportunity. We want those guys to come out and learn because there's things that we're going to need to teach them ... and there's things that they can teach us. They can teach us how to run routes and how to cover and do other different things. So it's not us vs. them or them vs. us. It's us together as one teaching each other.' U.S. wide receiver Ja'Deion High evades an Australian defender during the USA Football "Summer Series" at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times) Olympic flag football is played with five players per side on a 50-by-25-yard field. Teams have four downs to reach midfield and four more to score from inside midfield. The basic tenants of offensive football remain the same from its tackle counterpart: throw, catch, run. Advertisement But players don't juke the same way their tackle counterparts can, wide receiver Ja'Deion High said. When the former Texas Tech receiver was learning the sport, he was stunned when defenders still pulled his flag after what he believed were his best moves. He had to learn flag football's unique hip dips and flips to keep his flags away from defenders. The adjustment on defense could be even more difficult. Defenders cannot hinder an opposing player's forward progress. The NFL's most mundane hand-check would draw a penalty in flag football. 'The athletic ability [of an NFL player], I'm not questioning,' said defensive back Mike Daniels, a former cornerback at West Virginia. 'But the IQ aspect, the speed of the game is completely different.' USA Football, the governing body of U.S. flag football responsible for selecting the national team, has not outlined how NFL players will fit into the tryout process for the 2028 Olympic cycle. But with the Games scheduled for July 14-July 30, the one-week flag competition could overlap with the beginning of NFL training camps. Even preparations to learn the new sport and practice its unique schemes would take valuable offseason time away from NFL players. U.S. wide receiver Laval Davis, left, attempts to catch a pass as an Australian player defends during the USA Football Summer Series on Sunday. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times) Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley was ready to burst into patriotic song at the mention of representing the United States in the Olympics, but when reminded that he might have to miss part of training camp for it, he backed off immediately. He spoke directly into a video camera to assure Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh that the job that pays him $5.4 million on a four-year rookie contract is all he needs. Advertisement USA Football has remained in contact with the NFL about how to integrate professionals, said Brownson, who worked for the Cleveland Browns for five seasons, including three as the assistant wide receivers coach. With the Games still three years away, USA Football is focused on keeping doors open to all prospects and offering educational opportunities for potential players to become familiar with flag football. "The cool thing about our process is when you come out to trials, there is no name on the back of your jersey,' Brownson said. 'You get a number and you have the same opportunity to try out as the person next to you. ... We'll just be excited to have the best team that we could but I always do and will always stand up for who we currently field. 'They're the best flag football players in the world, both men and women, and they deserve their flowers, too." The U.S. men's national team is the five-time defending International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world champions. Since Doucette made his national team debut in 2020, the U.S. men are undefeated in international tournaments with gold medals at two world championships (2021, 2024), the 2022 World Games and the 2023 continental championship. U.S. wide receiver Amber Clark-Robinson scores a touchdown against Australia at the USA Football Summer Series at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday. (Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times) Led by quarterback Vanita Krouch, the women's team is 33-1 in the last six years. The U.S. women have won three consecutive IFAF world championships and the 2023 continental title while finishing second at the 2022 World Games. Advertisement Krouch has become an international flag football star after a four-year basketball career at Southern Methodist. Examining talent transfers from other sports has helped strengthen the USA Football athlete pipeline as the organization researches the best qualities for flag football. Baseball and softball players who can whip passes from odd arm angles can thrive in a game that features multiple quarterbacks. The U.S. national teams have former basketball, soccer and track and field stars. The sport values agility and elusiveness. While the NFL's 40-yard dash is the premier test for speed, it may be less valuable in flag football, Brownson said. The perfect flag football player combines that straight-line speed with quickness. Read more: Rams players and coaches like the idea of competing in flag football at L.A. Olympics Advertisement "There's such an art and a craft and a different style of dance that we do,' Krouch said. 'I say tackle football is like hip hop, krump dancing. ... We ballet dance. It's finesse, it's clean, it's creative." The quarterback served as an offensive coordinator in the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl, the first version of the All-Star game to feature a flag football format. Leading the NFC team to victory, Krouch loved sharing flag football's unique route combinations. She noticed how the NFL's best showed their respect for her sport by enthusiastically learning the different nuances. The Pro Bowl experience was one of many surreal moments for Krouch in her nearly two-decade career of playing flag football. From playing in a local league, the 44-year-old has become a multi-time gold medalist. She never thought this sport she sometimes teaches in her elementary physical education classes could become this big. U.S. defensive back Laneah Bryan, left, tries to pull a flag off an Australian player during the USA Football Summer Series on Sunday. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times) The announcement that flag football would officially debut in the 2028 Olympics brought it to even greater heights. No question Krouch wants to play in the Games. Advertisement But the competition at tryouts every year gets 10 times harder, two-time national team member Ashlea Klam said. The 19-year-old plays flag football on a scholarship for NAIA-level Keiser University and recognizes no one is guaranteed a spot each year as the talent pool grows. It will be even more difficult to make the 10-person Olympic roster. As each year's tryouts get more competitive, Doucette sees his hope for the sport coming true. He knows the better prospects are a sign that more people are paying attention to flag football. If in three years at BMO Stadium, the eyes are fixated on another quarterback leading the United States at the Olympics, Doucette will consider that still mission accomplished. "No matter if I'm a part of the team or not, I will still be around the game,' Doucette said. 'That's my goal is still to be there, in general, no matter if I'm playing or watching." Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
Minjee Lee wins third career major at Women's PGA Championship, joins rare company with victory
Minjee Lee won her third career major at the Women's PGA Championship on Sunday, joining rare company among her fellow Australian golfers in doing so. Lee, 29, showed remarkable to composure to clinch the title at a windy Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco, closing out her victory with a 2-over 74 to win by three shots over American Auston Kim and two-time LPGA Tour winner Chanettee Wannasaen. Sunday marked Lee's 11th career win and her first victory on the LPGA Tour since the 2023 BMW Ladies Championship. It also means she becomes just the third Australian women's golfer to win three majors alongside Karrie Webb (seven) and Jan Stephenson (three). 'It feels pretty amazing,' Lee said afterwards. 'I feel like I really deserve this one. I put a lot of hard work into it. I feel really good.' The four days in Frisco, Texas, were a tough outing for all participants in tricky conditions – players dealt with strong wins and high temperatures – with Lee, Kim and Wannasaen the only three players to finish under par. Lee entered Sunday's final round with a four-stroke lead and, although her advantage fluctuated, it never fell below two shots as she kept a firm grip on the title over the 18 holes. She told reporters afterwards that she was aware of the scores elsewhere throughout her final round as she made sure to check every leaderboard she came across to keep up to date with what her competitors were doing. Even when Lee had three bogeys over four holes in the front nine, none of her closest rivals could take advantage of that slip-up; Lee's playing partner on Sunday, world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul, finished 1-over for the day and tied for fourth. Despite all the tough conditions and challenges from other players, remaining calm in the face of obstacles was key to her success, Lee explained afterwards. 'I just tried to be really simple out there. It was just so tough with the wind,' she said. 'Some of the drives that I hit were really terrible out there, but I was able to get up and down, make bogey, not have a score that was too large to come back from. 'I think I managed myself really well out there today. I knew the 14th and 15th holes would be birdie opportunities, so just tried to stay patient and just try to make pars until those holes.' Lee is the fourth Australian women to win the Women's PGA Championship and now is just two wins away from the career grand slam – achieved by win the five major titles – needing the Women's British Open and the Chevron Championship to complete the set. She also took home $1.8 million of the record $12 million purse, which was up from $10.4 million a year ago. Lee finished on 4-under to claim the victory in Texas, being doused in champagne on the 18th green after sealing the title. Fellow Australian Hannah Green was one of those celebrating with Lee and is also a former winner of the Women's PGA Championship. She said watching her friend lift the trophy made her feel 'super proud.' 'She's come close in many majors before,' Green said. 'The US (Women's) Open probably hurt her a little bit last year (where Lee had a lead in the final round but collapsed later on), probably added some more fuel to the fire, so it's amazing to have her name on another trophy. 'She's obviously proved herself with her new putter. She's putted amazing this week. I hope she's able to enjoy it because it was a really tough week, mentally more than physically. I think all of us are pretty knackered. Super proud of her.'
CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
Minjee Lee wins third career major at Women's PGA Championship, joins rare company with victory
Minjee Lee won her third career major at the Women's PGA Championship on Sunday, joining rare company among her fellow Australian golfers in doing so. Lee, 29, showed remarkable to composure to clinch the title at a windy Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco, closing out her victory with a 2-over 74 to win by three shots over American Auston Kim and two-time LPGA Tour winner Chanettee Wannasaen. Sunday marked Lee's 11th career win and her first victory on the LPGA Tour since the 2023 BMW Ladies Championship. It also means she becomes just the third Australian women's golfer to win three majors alongside Karrie Webb (seven) and Jan Stephenson (three). 'It feels pretty amazing,' Lee said afterwards. 'I feel like I really deserve this one. I put a lot of hard work into it. I feel really good.' The four days in Frisco, Texas, were a tough outing for all participants in tricky conditions – players dealt with strong wins and high temperatures – with Lee, Kim and Wannasaen the only three players to finish under par. Lee entered Sunday's final round with a four-stroke lead and, although her advantage fluctuated, it never fell below two shots as she kept a firm grip on the title over the 18 holes. She told reporters afterwards that she was aware of the scores elsewhere throughout her final round as she made sure to check every leaderboard she came across to keep up to date with what her competitors were doing. Even when Lee had three bogeys over four holes in the front nine, none of her closest rivals could take advantage of that slip-up; Lee's playing partner on Sunday, world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul, finished 1-over for the day and tied for fourth. Despite all the tough conditions and challenges from other players, remaining calm in the face of obstacles was key to her success, Lee explained afterwards. 'I just tried to be really simple out there. It was just so tough with the wind,' she said. 'Some of the drives that I hit were really terrible out there, but I was able to get up and down, make bogey, not have a score that was too large to come back from. 'I think I managed myself really well out there today. I knew the 14th and 15th holes would be birdie opportunities, so just tried to stay patient and just try to make pars until those holes.' Lee is the fourth Australian women to win the Women's PGA Championship and now is just two wins away from the career grand slam – achieved by win the five major titles – needing the Women's British Open and the Chevron Championship to complete the set. She also took home $1.8 million of the record $12 million purse, which was up from $10.4 million a year ago. Lee finished on 4-under to claim the victory in Texas, being doused in champagne on the 18th green after sealing the title. Fellow Australian Hannah Green was one of those celebrating with Lee and is also a former winner of the Women's PGA Championship. She said watching her friend lift the trophy made her feel 'super proud.' 'She's come close in many majors before,' Green said. 'The US (Women's) Open probably hurt her a little bit last year (where Lee had a lead in the final round but collapsed later on), probably added some more fuel to the fire, so it's amazing to have her name on another trophy. 'She's obviously proved herself with her new putter. She's putted amazing this week. I hope she's able to enjoy it because it was a really tough week, mentally more than physically. I think all of us are pretty knackered. Super proud of her.'
