Australia captain Alyssa Healy will not be keeping wicket in the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand due to a persistent knee injury. However, she remains optimistic about playing as a batter in all three games, aiming to prepare for the Ashes series in January. Healy’s knee is improving, but she is taking a day-by-day approach. Beth Mooney will continue to keep wicket in Healy’s absence, starting with the series opener at Basin Reserve in Wellington.
Healy admitted that her lack of recent cricket, having barely played in the past eight or nine months, makes this series an opportunity to focus on her batting and regain form. Despite her injury struggles, Healy remains positive about the depth of Australian cricket and the emergence of new talent, such as Georgia Voll. Voll, who made her ODI debut during Healy’s injury, has scored consistently but will likely drop out of the squad with Healy’s return.
New Zealand enters the series as T20 World Cup champions but has not beaten Australia in a bilateral ODI series since 1999, with their last win against them in an ODI coming in 2017. Healy acknowledged the disappointment in the Australian camp after their World Cup exit but remains confident about their future.
New Zealand is also under pressure, needing a strong performance in this series to secure automatic qualification for the 2026 ODI World Cup. They currently sit sixth in the Women’s Championship standings, with crucial matches ahead. The series will be the first home series for New Zealand since their World Cup win, and they are eager to challenge Australia for the Rose Bowl.
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