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Following a heartbreaking defeat to India in the Women's ODI World Cup 2025 semifinal, Australia captain Alyssa Healy strongly hinted at the end of her One Day International career. In the immediate aftermath of the loss on October 30, Healy suggested she 'won't be there' when the next edition of the Women's World Cup takes place in 2029. This surprising admission marks a potential transition point for the dominant Australian team as their long-time captain reflects on her future in the 50-over format.
Alyssa Healy hints at ODI retirement
The heavy defeat came after an unusually skittish performance by the otherwise world-beating Australian side. Although they managed to post a massive score of 338 runs after choosing to bat first—a decision that was heavily debated—even that formidable total appeared about 40 runs short given their strong start. Critically, their fielding effort in the second innings was marked by a lack of discipline. The team failed to build consistent pressure despite possessing a quality bowling attack, as several players, including captain Healy herself, dropped easy catches, ultimately costing them a spot in the final.
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When quizzed about the her plans for next Women's ODI World Cup, Healy said ,“I won’t be there!"
“Oh, 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. We did so much right, we’ll learn, grow, and get better," Healy added after the match.
Given the demanding nature and increasing intensity of the modern game, coupled with her injury history, it would be a considerable surprise if Alyssa Healy were to continue playing competitive ODI cricket for another four years. Since she will be 39 years old when the 2029 Women's World Cup arrives, her comments about not being there appear to be a realistic acknowledgment of the physical challenges and inevitable transition that lies ahead for a veteran player.
Australia lost the match despite posting a colossal target of 339. Jemimah Rodrigues' unbeaten 127 and Harmanpreet Kaur's crucial 89 ensured India go past the line with five wickets to spare. Talking about the match, Healy said:
“Good contest in the end. Probably reflecting on that, we did that to ourselves a little bit. That’s probably the first time I have felt that. We didn’t finish well with the bat, didn’t bowl that great, and dropped chances in the field. But ultimately, we were outdone in the end. I think everyone contributed beautifully throughout this tournament. That’s why it’s probably really disappointing to be standing here right now. We created enough. We created pressure. We created opportunities. We just weren’t able to capitalise on them." she concluded.
India and South Africa will now lock horns with each other in the Women's World Cup final on November 2.
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