Healy injures her calf during fourth T20I against India

Australia Women bagged the five-match away series with a thrilling seven-run win in the fourth T20I on Saturday (December 17). Ellyse Perry put in another match-winning performance by scoring 72* to help Australia post a big total of 188 runs. Indian batters also replied with another courageous effort in their chase but were restricted to just 181/5 to suffer a heartbreaking defeat.

Apart from the series win, there were plenty of positive takeaways for the traveling side at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. But their captain Alyssa Healy suffered a calf strain while batting and was ruled out for the last game, however, a final word on her availability is expected soon. This is the second injury for the Australian camp in this series after star bowler Jess Jonassen was ruled out with a hamstring injury after the first match.

The 32-year-old wicketkeeper-batter gave Australia a quick start despite losing the in-form opener Beth Mooney early. Healy smashed 30 runs off just 21 balls with the help of six fours and looked confident for a big knock for herself. But on the second last ball of the powerplay over, she injured her calf while smashing a four on Deepti Sharma’s delivery.

She dragged herself offside to play that shot towards the long on but tweaked the calf in the process. She struggled while taking a run and was down in the pain. Australian physio attended her quickly and she returned to bat after primary treatment. But she struggled again while taking a run on the next delivery and decided to walk off the pitch for further treatment.

In her absence, the current vice-captain Tahlia McGrath took the leadership duties and Mooney donned the wicketkeeping gloves for Australia. Healy’s absence didn’t cost Australia a game but she is likely to miss the fifth and the final T20I match against India scheduled on Tuesday, December 20 at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. If she misses the next game, then the 19-year-old left-handed batter Phoebe Litchfield is likely to open thee innings for Australia.