Healy now a prized scalp
ALYSSA Healy has swapped pats on the back to having a target painted there. And by the very same people.
After posting the highest ever T20I score in history and then blitzing an unbeaten century that sealed a record-breaking run of ODI victories for Australia, inside a fortnight, the wicketkeeperbatsman is in a hot run of form.
But now some of the women with whom she has shared a changeroom for the past six months would quite like that to end.
“I really want to get Alyssa Healy out,” said Adelaide Strikers’ world leading T20 bowler Megan Schutt, with a broad grin, ahead of the start of the fifth Women’s Big Bash League.
“She makes runs against us every time we play the Sixers and she’s obviously in cracking form. The Sixers look good and so does she, so Alyssa is my prize wicket.”
The latest round of the WWBL — the first given its own standalone billing, rather than being aligned with the men’s version — begins next week. Schutt will have to wait until late November to run in at Healy.
Rachel Haynes, who gave able support to Healy in her last triple figure score in green and gold, however, is prepared for a more imminent confrontation with a teammate turned rival.
Haynes will captain Sydney Thunder this season, who open the comp against the Sixers.
“I’m looking forward to facing a bit of banter from Alyssa Healy behind the stumps on Friday night, definitely” Haynes said. “That’s all part of it. I know what to expect.”
Those WWBL players in the national squad have been on the road or in camp for the last six months, during which time they continued to assert their dominance in the world game.
It is a happy environment, but with a huge home T20 World Cup starting in February next year, a change of scene will help re-energise any tiring players.
“We all love each other,” Schutt said. “But there is a certain amount of time you spend with anyone before they think ‘right, I need a different environment’. We’ll all be really fresh coming in to [the WBBL] because it’s a new environment, new faces, new coaches.”
“We’re all super competitive and that brings out a bit of white line fever on the field, which is bloody awesome,” said Schutt, a swing bowler and the only women who can boast hat-tricks in both ODI and T20 internationals.
“We have daily battles in the nets when we’re on tour. We’re really just putting on some colours and doing the same on the field.”
Skipper Meg Lanning is more than happy to see the fighting spirit already coming out in, and between, her players.
The WBBL’s depth of quality domestic and international players, she believes, offers little let up in intensity from the international stage.
“There’s already been some good banter between the group. It’s really competitive, we love to win, we love to beat other teams so that’s going to prepare us well for the World Cup,” Lanning said.
Healy’s Sixers, losing finalists to the Brisbane Heat last time out, start out as one of the favourites for the title. But Lanning’s Perth Scorchers and the defending champions themselves have reason for confidence, too. Even last year’s basement dwellers Hobart Hurricanes have recruited well in both the domestic and foreign market.
“T20 cricket is so tough, just when you think one team’s on a roll, someone else will get some momentum and really run with it,” Haynes said.
“It can take one or two players to change the momentum of a game. The unique thing [among players in the Australian squad] is you have that competitiveness that means you want to do really well, but I want my teammates to do really well too. Particularly with this season.”