Australian star Alyssa Healy hopes to be handing back the national captaincy to Meg Lanning as soon as a series against the West Indies in October, with an increased workload for sponsors indicating an imminent return from her self-imposed absence.
Lanning withdrew from the recent Ashes tour due to an undisclosed medical issue having earlier taken six months away from the game due to personal reasons before she returned and starred in wins over Pakistan in January.
The veteran batter hasn’t announced anything official, but there are encouraging signs that she could return for the WBBL season after missing Australia’s successful trip to the UK.
“I’ve spoken to her in bits and pieces, but I obviously left her alone during the Ashes because it would have been tough for her to watch,” Healy said at a sponsorship event in Sydney where Cricket Australia extended its partnership with HCLTech.
“It’s great to see her out. I think she’s in Sydney this week doing a heap of sponsor filming which is amazing, and from all reports she’s progressing really well for the summer.
“I haven’t seen her just yet, but from all reports she’s going really well and I look forward to hopefully seeing her back in Aussie colours in October against the Windies.
“I’m always hopeful, and I think the whole country is hopeful of that, but that’s a decision not for me. Hopefully, she’s playing some cricket really soon.”
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Healy skippered the side in the UK but is happy to hand the reins straight back to Lanning if she wants it, with Australia preparing to host the West Indies in the first T20 in Sydney on October 1, the same day as the NRL and NRLW grand finals.
“Meg is the captain of the Australian women’s cricket team, and I’m fully aware of that fact,” the opener said.
“I’ve just been doing my job as best as I can for the group, but that’s a decision and a conversation for Meg to have.
“We want her to be fit and firing first and foremost, and if that means coming back and taking charge of the team, then I’ll happily step aside and support her in the best way I know how.”
Healy is enjoying a few weeks off after a hectic Ashes series, but things are about to ramp up with her Sixers to open the WBBL season against the Stars on October 19.
The Sixers will again be one of the favourites to take out the title after they fell just short last season, and their cause has been helped with superstar all-rounder Ellyse Perry inking a new two-year deal to stay in Sydney.
There was further good news for the WBBL powerhouse with former Aussie vice-captain Rachael Haynes joining the franchise as the new head of BBL and WBBL operations at the Sixers following a decorated career with cross-town rivals the Thunder.
