‘Lost that competitive edge’: Alyssa Healy announces retirement from cricket

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Australian women’s cricket captain Alyssa Healy will retire from all forms of cricket in February after 16 years as part of the national team.

Cricket Australia announced the 35-year-old’s retirement on Tuesday morning and said Healy will retire after the team’s multi-format series against India next month.

Australia’s cricket captain Alyssa Healy.

Healy made her national team debut in 2010 and was named captain in 2023. She earned a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2022 and led Australia to a clean sweep win over England in the 2025 women’s Ashes.

She has been part of eight world cup titles, and holds records such as the highest individual score in a world cup final and most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in T20 internationals.

“It’s with mixed emotions that the upcoming India series will be my last for Australia,” Healy said in a statement on Tuesday.

“I’m still passionate about playing for Australia, but I’ve somewhat lost that competitive edge that’s kept me driven since the start, so the time feels right to call it a day.

“Knowing I won’t be going to the T20 world cup this year and the limited preparation time the team has, I won’t be part of the T20s against India, but I’m excited to have the opportunity to finish my career and captain the ODI and Test side at home against India – one of the biggest series on the calendar for us.

“I’ll genuinely miss my teammates, singing the team song and walking out to open the batting for Australia. Representing my country has been an incredible honour, and I’m grateful for one last series in the green and gold.”

Healy has twice been named ICC women’s T20I cricketer of the year, and won the Belinda Clark award in 2019 as Australia’s best female international cricketer.

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said Healy was one of the all-time greats of the game who had made huge contributions both on and off the field.

“On behalf of Australian Cricket, I’d like to thank Alyssa and congratulate her on an incredible career that has inspired so many and changed the game for the better,” he said.

“We look forward to celebrating her achievements throughout the series against India.”

Domestically, Healy was a founding Sydney Sixers team member and has compiled more than 3000 runs across 11 seasons in the women’s Big Bash League, lifting the trophy twice.

Sixers general manager and former teammate Rachael Haynes said Healy was an icon of the game.

Alyssa Healy playing for the Sydney Sixers in November.

“Midge [Healy] is a larrikin, a leader and the ultimate teammate whose impact has pioneered change in our game, especially for female athletes,” she said.

“Midge leaves a legacy at our club that goes beyond words, and we cannot thank her enough for what she has done for us at the Sixers and across the wider WBBL.”

Healy was also part of 11 women’s national cricket league titles with NSW after making her state debut with the NSW Breakers in 2007.