Australia’s interim captain, Alyssa Healy, has signed a three-year contract deal with the Sydney Sixers, a Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) franchise, in anticipation of the ninth season of the competition. It’s worth noting that the highly anticipated T20 tournament is scheduled to kick off on October 19th.
Alyssa Healy, whose contract was due to expire last summer in 2022, has opted to extend her commitment, signing a fresh deal that will keep her an integral part of the team until the conclusion of the 2025-26 season. Following her stint as the interim captain during the Women’s Ashes, Healy expresses a newfound enthusiasm and a changed perspective on the game. She’s excited about the future.
“The only thing we pondered was how long we wanted the deal to be. The beauty of the situation is I have had an exciting opportunity to captain the side in the Ashes. Whether that is something that will happen moving forward or not doesn’t matter. It has reinvigorated the way I think about the game and the way I am enjoying it,” Healy was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
“There is an exciting 12 months ahead with World Cups and trips to Bangladesh. I am still loving playing for Australia, but the WBBL is great to be part of. It’s made me think about what I need as an individual. But being a skipper you don’t have time to think about anything. You are focusing on the game and tactics, and I forgot to think about what I need to make sure I perform. It has made me think about my game and what I can do to be better,” she further added.
The 33-year-old Healy will take charge of the national team in the upcoming T20I and ODI home series against the West Indies due to Meg Lanning’s unavailability. Meanwhile, in the recently completed WBBL draft, the Sixers made significant acquisitions, including Jess Kerr and Chloe Tryon. It’s worth mentioning that Ellyse Perry has extended her contract with the Sixers for an additional two years and will maintain her role as the team’s leader in the upcoming season.
‘I have always enjoyed being vice-captain because that is the way you think’ says Alyssa Healy
Promoted to the captaincy just a week before the Ashes tour due to Lanning’s absence, Healy faced one of the most challenging series of her career, managing only 126 runs at an average of 15.75 in all formats. She’s eager to make a strong comeback and wants to be better equipped to handle the responsibilities of captaincy while also improving her own performance, especially when called upon at short notice.
“It’s made me think about what I need as an individual,” Healy said.
“Throughout my whole career, it has just been, ‘Do my job for the team, do what the team needs. I have always enjoyed being vice-captain because that is the way you think; you are in the right position to read the game and help the captain out. But being skipper you don’t have time to think about anything.”
“You are focusing on the game and tactics, and I forgot to think about what I need to make sure I perform. It has made me think about my game and what I can do to be better,” Healy further added.
Sydney Sixers WBBL 9 Squad: Alyssa Healy, Jade Allen, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Lauren Cheatle, Ash Gardner, Emma Hughes, Jess Kerr, Kate Peterson, Ellyse Perry (c), Chloe Tryon.
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