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Australia have faced a huge setback as their captain Alyssa Healy is on sidelines after suffering minor calf strain. In her absence, Tahlia McGrath has been Australia’s stand-in captain. McGrath-led Australia continued their winning run and finished the league stage unbeaten. However, they will need Healy’s services in the semifinal against hosts India on October 30 in Navi Mumbai. After the comprehensive seven-wicket win over South Africa on October 25 in Indore, head coach Shelley Nitschke provided an update on Healy’s fitness.
“Obviously, she wasn’t quite up to it tonight, but she’ll continue to be assessed. We’re really hopeful for the semi, but there are still a few days to play out before that. We’re hopeful again, and she’ll just continue to be assessed the closer we get to the game," Nitschke told the reporters in press conference.
Despite missing a few games, Healy is Australia's leading run-scorer in the tournament. She has scored 294 runs from four innings at an average of 98 and strike rate of 131.25. She is only the second batter to score two centuries ahead of the semifinal.
Stand-in captain on Healy’s fitness
At the coin toss, McGrath said that her fitness is being monitored on a daily basis.
“It’s a bit of a day-by-day thing. She (Healy) trained well yesterday, but still, we’re taking it day by day,” McGrath said at the coin toss.
Healy’s belligerent knock in record-breaking run chase
In the previous clash against India, the wicketkeeper-batter wreaked havoc with her 142 off 107 balls, featuring 21 fours and three sixes. She helped Australia chase down 330 with three wickets in hand and an over to spare. Australia broke the record for highest successful ODI run chase.
Healy’s ODI record against India
Healy has a good record against India in the format. From 20 ODIs, she has 752 runs at an average of 44.23. She has two centuries and three fifties against India.
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