A setback for Sydney Sixers in the WBBL|11 as Alyssa Healy, the Australia captain, will miss the team’s opening match due to a thumb injury sustained during the ODI World Cup semi-final against India. The incident happened while Healy was wicketkeeping to fast bowler Kim Garth, with Jemimah Rodrigues hitting a sharp top-edge that struck Healy’s thumb. Healy, unaware of the severity of the injury at the time, continued with her wicketkeeping duties for the rest of the match.
Healy, speaking on the Willow Talk podcast, acknowledged the noticeable injury and expressed uncertainty about her recovery timeline. Although the Sixers confirmed the injury as “minor,” Healy will sit out the match against the Scorchers in Perth for rest. The team will assess her progress over the following week to determine if she can return early in the tournament with proper support for batting and wicketkeeping.
This setback adds to Healy’s recent injury struggles, including a calf strain that affected her World Cup performances. Despite her strong showing earlier in the tournament with back-to-back centuries, her semifinal appearance was cut short, contributing to Australia’s loss to India. Healy’s history of injuries in the WBBL includes limited game time over the past seasons due to various issues, emphasizing the importance of her recovery for the Sixers’ performance.
With Healy’s absence impacting the team’s finals chances, the Sixers will aim for a swift recovery, especially after witnessing her top form during the World Cup matches.