Alyssa Healy is predicted to play by the ache of two fractured fingers in Birmingham as Australia eye off retaining the Ashes within the Twenty20 sequence.
Healy revealed earlier this week she had performed all of Australia’s 89-run Test match win with a fractured finger in every hand, after the wicketkeeper and captain was harm in a warm-up recreation.
The accidents prompted her to drop herself down the order to No.8 in Australia’s second innings, with the captain struggling to carry the bat by a match-turning 50.
Australia will maintain off till nearer to Saturday’s T20 opener to make a ultimate name on Healy’s health, however at this stage anticipate her to play.
“She’s tracking along really well. She’ll be assessed over the next couple of days and hopefully she’ll be out there for us come Saturday night,” coach Shelley Nitschke stated.
“She’s a trooper. I thought she kept really well, and her batting in the second innings was pivotal for us to come out and make that 50.
“She captained brilliantly for somebody of their first Test match. She’s a giant a part of this group so hopefully she proves okay to maintain going within the white-ball codecs.”
Australia’s win in the Test match means wins in two of the six remaining white-ball matches will be enough to retain the Ashes for a fifth straight series.
If Healy is to miss any games, Phoebe Litchfield will likely open alongside Beth Mooney who will also don the gloves.
The other main change will be the return of pacer Megan Schutt to the bowling attack.
Schutt was overlooked for Australia’s Test win, marking the third straight longer-format match she has missed after being unavailable against India in 2021 and rested against England in 2022.
But chief selector Shawn Flegler insisted the 30-year-old’s Test career was not necessarily over, with Australia to face India in India and South Africa in Perth in the next seven months.
Schutt has taken nine wickets at 20.11 in Test cricket and remains a crucial part of Australia’s white-ball sides as a top-10-ranked bowler in the world in both T20 and ODIs.
“She could possibly be a prospect. India in all probability could be powerful for her if we’re being sincere. We’re not anticipating a inexperienced seamer over there,” Flegler stated.
“The WACA is a unique proposition once more, we anticipate it to have a bit extra tempo and bounce which might assist her, bowling with the Fremantle Doctor, all that type of stuff.
“Never say never. But each Test you look at what attack can bring us 20 wickets.
“She is in the direction of the again finish of her profession and is actually vital for our white-ball stuff as effectively. We must handle her as a useful resource.
“The same as (batter) Grace Harris, she could easily play a Test match but she may not get through the rest of the series. You are weighing up all those things.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
