Australia captain Alyssa Healy will miss her side’s crucial Women’s World Cup clash against England on Wednesday due to a calf injury, dealing a significant blow to the defending champions. The 35-year-old sustained a minor strain during training on Saturday, leaving Australia anxiously awaiting her recovery for the semi-finals later in the tournament.
Healy’s Form and Importance to the Team
Healy has been instrumental in Australia’s campaign so far, scoring 294 runs in four innings. Highlights include a 142-run effort against India and an unbeaten 113 against Bangladesh, making her the tournament’s leading run-scorer.
Her absence will be felt, but Australia boasts a deep squad, allowing other players to step up in her place:
- Beth Mooney will take over wicketkeeping duties.
- Tahlia McGrath will captain the side in Healy’s absence.
- Georgia Voll is expected to bat at the top of the order.
Australia currently sit top of the group standings with four wins from five matches, edging England on net run rate. Both sides could still be overtaken by South Africa, depending on their performance against Pakistan on Tuesday.
Injury History and Comeback
Healy has faced a series of injuries in recent years, including:
- Missing the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa due to a plantar fascia issue.
- Knee and foot injuries during the 2024-25 season, keeping her out of the Sydney Sixers’ WBBL campaign, an ODI series against India, the T20 Ashes, and a T20 tour of New Zealand.
After returning from injury in August, Healy played six white-ball matches for Australia A against India A before being named in the World Cup squad.
Australia vs England: Match Context
Australia defeated England in the 2022 World Cup final in Christchurch, where Healy scored a spectacular 170 runs, demonstrating her match-winning ability. Her absence is a significant challenge for the defending champions as they face a resurgent England side, coached by Charlotte Edwards, who have looked more composed in this tournament.
Despite this setback, Australia’s strength in depth ensures capable replacements:
- Georgia Voll has shown promise in previous instances when Healy was injured, such as during the Ashes T20 series.
- Tahlia McGrath brings captaincy experience to stabilize the team.
Key Match Information
- Fixture: Australia Women vs England Women
- Competition: ICC Women’s World Cup 2025
- Date & Time: Wednesday, October 22, 2025
- Venue: Holkar Stadium, Indore
- Australia’s Form: 4 wins from 5 matches, top of group stage
- England’s Form: Unbeaten in the tournament so far
The match has major implications for semi-final positioning, with both sides aiming to maintain or improve their standings ahead of the knockout stages.
Looking Ahead
Healy faces a race against time to recover for the semi-finals, scheduled for October 29 in Guwahati or Colombo, and the second semi-final the following day in Mumbai.
Australia’s challenge will be to maintain momentum without their star captain, while England looks to capitalize on this opportunity to avenge previous defeats and assert dominance in the tournament.
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