NEWS
Follow UsAustralia Women skipper Alyssa Healy has been ruled out of the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against India as she continues to recover from a knee injury, Cricket Australia (CA) announced on November 23 (Saturday). However, she is expected to be fit and ready to lead the side for the tour of New Zealand starting December 19. Tahlia McGrath will lead the side in Healy's absence, at least against India.
21-year-old Georgia Voll replaces her in the squad and is expected to open the batting for her country in the first ODI at Allan Border Field, Brisbane on December 5. Voll is having an excellent Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) season, having hit 299 runs at a strike rate of 145.85 in her nine innings so far. She started off the season with 201 runs from her four Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) innings.
In fact, even in the 2023-24 season of the WNCL, the right-handed batter smashed 459 runs at 41.72.
Healy was ruled out of the remainder of the WBBL last week due to a niggle on her knee, which further intensified. With back-to-back tours, the selectors did not want to put further pressure and deteriorate the injury further.
"We've chosen an experienced squad for these two upcoming tours with next year's Ashes series and ICC Women's World Cup very much very much the focus," Cricket Australia's head of performance and national selector Shawn Flegler said.
"Georgia Voll has had a strong start to the summer and has shown her potential over several years.
"She'll form an exciting partnership with Phoebe Litchfield at the top of the order in what will be a great opportunity for her to get a taste of international cricket against a strong India side.
"The decision for Alyssa Healy to miss the India series was made with a longer-term view to the Ashes, with her availability for the New Zealand series to become clearer over the next few weeks."
Sophie Molineux and Darcie Brown, whose WBBL seasons have been cut short due to injuries, have also been included in the 13-member squad.
"Sophie has returned to play following knee soreness, which will continue to be managed over the course of the summer," Australia women's team physiotherapist Kate Beerworth said.
"Darcie has resumed training following a hip muscle strain and is on track for both series."
The first two ODIs against India will be played on December 5 and 8 in Brisbane before the action shifts to Perth for the third game on December 11.
Australia ODI squad for India and New Zealand ODIs: Alyssa Healy (NZ series only, pending fitness), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (vc), Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll (India series only) Georgia Wareham
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