Australia’s cricket team will be without their captain, Alyssa Healy, during the T20I series against New Zealand scheduled for March. Healy has chosen to sit out the series due to a foot injury she sustained after Australia’s impressive 16-0 win against England in the Women’s Ashes on their home turf. She also opted out of participating in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) where she played for UP Warriorz.
In her absence, Deepti Sharma has been appointed as the captain, while West Indies all-rounder Chinelle Henry has stepped in to fill the vacant spot on the team. Tahlia McGrath has been chosen to lead the Australian team in the upcoming three-match T20I series against New Zealand.
Australia’s chief selector, Shawn Flegler, announced that with Healy unavailable, Beth Mooney will take over the wicketkeeping duties. “We believe Nic is a tad ahead of the others, particularly in T20s. It’s highly unlikely that she will play, but Beth did exceptionally well as a replacement during the Ashes,” Flegler stated.
Additionally, wicketkeeper Nicole Faltum has been selected to join the squad. Faltum, who has yet to make her debut for the national team, has been performing well in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2024, accumulating 136 runs from 11 matches, with an average of 27.20, and a top score of 66 not out. She also captained the Governor-General XI Women during a match against England in January at North Sydney Oval.
Flegler remarked, “This is a great opportunity for Nicole to come in, train with the team, and experience the environment firsthand.”
The series against New Zealand will kick off on March 21 at Eden Park in Auckland.
### Australia’s Squad for the New Zealand T20I Series:
Darcie Brown, Nicole Faltum, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.
