Australian captain Alyssa Healy was visibly emotional as she indicated that the recent Women’s World Cup semifinal against India would likely be her final appearance in the 50-over format. Her announcement came moments after India delivered a stunning, record-breaking chase at the DY Patil Stadium, eliminating the defending champions.
Reflecting on the five-wicket defeat, Healy praised her team’s unwavering spirit and consistent performance throughout the tournament. However, she acknowledged their failure to capitalize on crucial moments that could have changed the game’s outcome. “I think everyone contributed beautifully throughout this tournament. That’s why it’s probably really disappointing to be standing here right now,” Healy stated. “We created enough. We created pressure. We created opportunities. We just weren’t able to capitalise on them.”
When questioned about Australia’s strategic plans for the next ODI World Cup cycle, Healy responded with a poignant smile. “I won’t be there!” she declared, confirming her intention to step away from one-day international cricket. She added, “I think that’s the beauty of this next cycle. We’re going to see that unfold. Obviously, there’s a T20 World Cup in the middle of next year, which is going to be really exciting for our group as well. But I think our one-day cricket is probably going to shift a little bit again.”
Healy, widely regarded as one of Australia’s modern cricket legends, leaves behind an impressive legacy in the ODI format. In 123 matches, she amassed 3,563 runs at an average of 35.98 with a strike rate of 99.72, including seven centuries and 18 half-centuries. Her performance in this final World Cup campaign, scoring 299 runs in five matches at an average of 74.75 with two hundreds, served as a powerful reminder of her enduring class and skill.
Her comments followed India’s remarkable victory, which saw them successfully chase down a formidable target of 339. This historic effort was spearheaded by Jemimah Rodrigues’ magnificent unbeaten 127 and Harmanpreet Kaur’s impactful 89. Earlier, Phoebe Litchfield’s 119 and Ellyse Perry’s 77 had propelled Australia to a strong total of 338, but it ultimately proved insufficient on a memorable night that signifies both the end of a remarkable era and the dawn of a new one for Australian women’s cricket.