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After missing two league stage games, Australia captain Alyssa Healy is gearing up for the Women's ODI World Cup 2025 semifinal match against hosts India. On October 29, Australia batter Beth Mooney confirmed that Healy is highly likely to return to action for the knockout game in Navi Mumbai. Ahead of the clash, Healy underwent an intense training session to prove her fitness. She had a long hit in the nets and donned the wicketkeeping gloves as well on her road to recovery from calf strain.
"She's certainly an X-factor at the top of the order with the bat," Mooney said of Healy on October 29.
"I think we've seen her change different games in different moments throughout her career, so I'm sure Thursday will be no different and she loves being in the contest.
"She's very passionate about the game, very passionate about winning, so I'm sure we'll see that version of her on Thursday."
In the league stage game against India, Healy scored 142 in the record-breaking run chase.
Mooney happy to hand over tough wicketkeeping role
In Healy’s absence, Mooney took over wicketkeeper duties for a couple games and found it tough against in-form Alana King who claimed a seven-fer.
"(It was a) tough couple games to put the gloves on with the way Alana King was bowling, but I had a lot of fun," Mooney continued.
"I enjoy being able to offer that role to the coaching staff and the selectors.
"Midge has done an exceptional job there for a number of years, and can change the game, as we saw in those two games against India in Bangladesh, so I'm looking forward to hopefully having her back.
"In a big game like this, Midge has done it plenty of times before, so I'm more than happy for her to just step back into that role and you'll see me run around the field, hopefully."
Healy's return means young Georgia Voll will sit out. After a single-digit score against England, she remained unbeaten for 38 in the run chase against South Africa.
Update from India camp
Meanwhile, the Indian team will miss the services of their in-form opener Pratika Rawal who has been ruled out for remainder of the tournament due to an ankle and knee injury while fielding against Bangladesh in a rain-hit encounter. Shafali Verma has replaced her in the squad and is likely to open the innings alongside Smriti Mandhana. Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh who missed the game against Bangladesh is expected to return as well.
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