Lisa Sthalekar: Why retiring Australian women’s captain Alyssa Healy will go down as one of the greatest

Having known Alyssa Healy since I coached her as a 13-year-old, I can hardly believe the day has arrived for the Australian captain to call time on her distinguished cricket career.

“Midge”, as she is affectionately known, has been one of Australian cricket’s most destructive batters since her debut as a teenager back in 2010, going on to win eight World Cup trophies, including two where she was player of the final.

Just as important, though, is her influence as a trailblazer for women’s cricket, starting out when the game was still seen as amateur but retiring having, alongside great mate Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning, helped grow it to heights I never thought possible as a former player.

While it is a sad day for Australian cricket that Healy will retire from all forms at the end of the multi-format series against India in February and March, her impact will be felt for decades.

A young 19-year-old when she debuted against New Zealand, Healy was cheeky back then and remains that to her core at age 35.

My first encounter with her was in the youth pathways when I was working full time at Cricket NSW as a high performance coach.

Back then, we all knew that she was destined to play cricket at the highest level.

Healy soon became my teammate and no one was safe from the practical jokes that she played on anyone vulnerable enough.

You can still see that mischievous side on the field and in interviews.

Known to be an aggressive player with the bat, that pick up length really quickly she had the ability to put pressure back onto the opposition as soon as she walked out into the middle.

I distinctly remember her first ICC event in the West Indies. It was a T20 World Cup and she was brought into the squad at the last minute because of an injury to our wicket-keeper and skipper at the time, Jodie Fields.

We were having the usual tight tussle against England and it came down to a super over.

Healy went into bat and was one of very few players that could swing straight away. Thankfully, we got through that match and went on to win that World Cup thanks to the ever skilful, Ellyse Perry and her famous foot stop, that saved four runs.

Fast forward to 2020, and in front of packed crowd, 86,174, and Healy put on a masterclass with the bat. India had no answers. 75 off 39 deliveries and the game was pretty much won.

Everyone remembers the scenes afterwards as the Australian team danced with Katy Perry to celebrated their T20 World Cup victory.

For me personally, nothing beats the photo taken of Healy’s arm around me at the end of the game as we look up at the stands, stating, “look at what we have achieved, we filled the stadium.”

Alyssa was front and centre of an Australian side that went from amateur to semi-professional and now full-time cricketers. Her aggressive approach meant that it was an attractive game for newcomers. Behind the scenes, she sat on the Australian Cricketers’ Association board to ensure the next generation was looked after.

That MCG final wasn’t the only big game impact she had. Two years later, Healy was at it again. The 50-over World Cup was played during COVID, so preparation was hampered, and Healy’s form during the early rounds didn’t set the world on fire.

Then in the semifinal, she pulled off a century against West Indies, but the best was yet to come.

In the final against Australia’s usual foes, England, Healy took the sword to the Poms, smashing an unbelievable 170 off 138 balls.

I could go on and on about her special innings, or amazing work behind the stumps, or even how she always found time to promote the game whilst still acknowledging those that came before her.

Healy has been one of the main reasons why the Australian team has had so much success, and she has continued the legacy that was passed down to her. I have no doubt as skipper, she has done exactly the same, and this Australian side has so many future stars to prove it.

One part of her career that I am disappointed in, is that we didn’t see Healy much in the whites and Baggy Green of Test cricket.

Unlike her husband, Mitchell Starc, who debuted after her in the Test arena but has played 105 matches, Healy has played just 10.

Yet, despite the lack of opportunity, it seems fitting that the last time we see her out in the middle will be wearing the Baggy Green at the WACA Ground come March 6 to 9.

Whilst the game always moves on, it will be strange not to see A Healy in the Australian women’s side.

She will go down as one of our greatest ever, and I was lucky that I got to see her entire career unfold and class her as a true friend.

Well done Midgey xx.