Healy reflects on 'ridiculous sport' as Australia make Test squad changes

The home side have brought Rachel Trenaman and Maitlan Brown in for the pink-ball game at the WACA

Andrew McGlashan

Published: Mar 2, 2026, 12:39 AM (4 hrs ago)

Beth Mooney congratulates Alyssa Healy after the latter's century • Getty Images

Alyssa Healy has not enjoyed the various milestones matches across her storied career but admitted she was able to savour her ODI swansong as she thrashed 158 off 98 balls against India in Hobart and even bowled for the first time in her career.

Healy brought up her century from 79 deliveries and then needed just 16 more to reach the 150. There was time for a double hundred but, battling cramp in her calf, she missed a full toss against Sneh Rana. It meant she finished her ODI career with 3777 runs at 37.02 and a strike-rate of 100.69, lifted into three figures with that final dashing display.

Related

The match-winner: Healy saved her best for the big moments

Healy plunders 158 off 98 balls in final ODI as Australia secure huge win

With Australia assured of victory, two overs of gentle offspin were greeted with applause from the crowd and a few jokes from husband Mitchell Starc in the commentary box.

"What a ridiculous sport that we play, that it can kick you down so many times and then give you opportunities like it has today," Healy said. "I've hated every milestone match, so today was just an opportunity to go out and enjoy it. It was one of the more enjoyable experiences I've had, so thanks to the cricket gods for that, it was a nice way to sign off in the yellow."

The match had started with Healy, in her final outing, presenting Lucy Hamilton with her first cap - the one moment where the significance of the day dawned on Healy.

"I was honestly fine this morning," Healy said, "and then when I was writing it [the speech] all down and realising probably what it means to debut and get that cap made me realise how special and how lucky I've been over the last 15 years to have done it as many times as I've had. So that was a really special experience."

The final part of Healy's international career will come with the pink-ball Test match in Perth which starts on Friday. "The WACA wicket has done some interesting things for us in Test cricket and white-ball cricket over the last few years, so I'm looking forward to seeing what conditions present, but any time this group gets to wear the baggy green is extra special so we're looking forward to doing that."

Meanwhile, Australia have made two additions to their squad for the Test by calling up Tasmania batter Rachel Trenaman and New South Wales pace bowler Maitlan Brown, who are both uncapped at international level, following injuries to Kim Garth (quad) and Sophie Molineux (back).

There is still hope that Ellyse Perry could feature as a specialist batter as she recovers from a quad injury. Hamilton is expected to make her Test debut following her ODI appearance in Hobart.

Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo

Click here to read article