Cricket Legend Alyssa Healy Announces International Retirement, to Captain Final Series Against India
Australian cricket icon Alyssa Healy has announced she will retire from international cricket in March, concluding a landmark 15-year career as one of the most accomplished players in the history of the women's game.
The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, who took over the captaincy following Meg Lanning's retirement in 2023, will lead Australia for the final time in the upcoming home series against India. Her decision concludes a storied tenure during which she amassed over 7,000 international runs and 275 dismissals, while anchoring Australia's dominance with eight World Cup titles.
“It’s with mixed emotions that the upcoming India series will be my last for Australia," Healy said in a statement Tuesday. “I’m still passionate about playing for Australia but I’ve somewhat lost that competitive edge that’s kept me driven since the start, so the time feels right to call it a day."
Healy, whose records include the highest individual score in a Women's ODI World Cup final (170) and the most dismissals in T20 internationals globally (126), cited a personal readiness for the decision. “I’ve been ready to retire for about three months," she told Australian Associated Press. "The opportunity to finish at home is something I really wanted to do.”
She will forgo the T20 leg of the India series to focus on captaining the ODI and Test teams, aiming to reach the milestone of 300 international caps if selected for five of the remaining matches. The multi-format series runs from mid-February through early March, culminating in a Test match in Perth.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg hailed Healy as “one of the all-time greats of the game,” acknowledging her “immeasurable contribution both on and off the field.”
Beyond her playing exploits, Healy has emerged as a respected television commentator in recent years and is part of Australian cricket royalty as the wife of fast bowler Mitchell Starc and niece of former wicketkeeper Ian Healy. While non-committal on specific post-retirement plans, Healy expressed a desire to continue contributing to the sport. “It’s given me so much and I still owe a lot to cricket,” she said.
Her departure marks the end of an era for Australian cricket, closing a chapter defined by unparalleled success and individual brilliance.
