Australian women’s cricket captain to retire after 2026 India series
“They support me no matter what I do and what decisions I make, so I’m really grateful to have that support. Especially for someone like Mitch to say: I’ve got your back and no matter what you decide to do, you know we can make it happen. So I’m really lucky in that regard.”
35-year-old Healy made his national team debut in 2010 and was named captain in 2023. She won gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and led Australia to a clean sheet against England in the 2025 women’s Ashes.
Australian Women’s Cricket Team Captain Alyssa Healy with her parents Greg and Sandy Healy after announcing her retirement from all forms of cricket in February. Credit: Kate Geraghty
She has been named the ICC T20I women’s cricketer of the year twice and won the Belinda Clark Award as Australia’s best women’s international cricketer in 2019. Domestically, she was a founding member of the Sydney Sixers and scored more than 3000 runs across 11 seasons in the Women’s Big Bash League, lifting the trophy twice.
But it is the achievements off the field that Healy is most proud of, including seeing women’s football go professional.
“This probably only hit me today, in fact this probably means more to me than board nominations or firings. This is about growing the game and inspiring the next generation.”
His mother, Sandy, agreed.
Australia’s women’s cricket captain Alyssa Healy with parents Sandy and Greg Healy and husband Mitch Starc (back to camera) before officially announcing her retirement on Tuesday.Credit: Kate Geraghty
“We are very proud,” he said. “When Alyssa first started this sport, only families were sitting in a small group. Now that I think about it, there were nearly 90,000 people. [when] “I was playing in Melbourne a long time ago,” she said. “I mean, there’s been a massive increase in the number of people watching women’s cricket in particular.”
Although Healy did not reveal his future career plans on Tuesday, many, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, expect him to continue commenting.
“Alyssa Healy is a legend. She has had an incredible career playing for and leading Australia,” Albanese told a press conference.
“I think she’s a great cricket commentator. I think, you know, my two favorite commentators are both women; one from Australia at the moment, one from England, I think they’re phenomenal. And we certainly wish Alyssa the best.”
Alyssa Healy at SCG in 2023.Credit: Getty Images for Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg added his own voice to the chorus of praise, writing that Healy is one of the greatest cricketers of all time but will equally be remembered for his contributions off the field.
Sure enough, after the press conference was over and Healy returned to the green and gold NSW jersey, a group of teenage boys emerged from the nets to find him. One by one, they presented their gloves to him for him to sign.
“I think the cricket side of it is something separate,” Healy said. “But it’s the little moments and interactions that I feel like I’m having outside of the game, whether it’s inspiring a young girl or boy to pick up the game or talking to someone about the game, that’s really what makes this special.”
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