![Alyssa Healy and Faf du Plessis [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1768318635305_AlyssaHealyandFafduPlessis.jpg?type=hq)
Alyssa Healy and Faf du Plessis [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x]
Australian Women’s captain Alyssa Healy has announced her retirement from international cricket. JSK skipper Faf du Plessis has been ruled out of the remainder of the SA20 2025-26 season. In other news, Cricket West Indies has named a 16-player West Indies squad for the T20I series against Afghanistan in the UAE.
Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest cricketing news that emerged out of Tuesday, January 13.
Alyssa Healy to retire after home series against India Women
Australian Women’s captain Alyssa Healy has announced her retirement from all formats of the game. The legendary wicketkeeper-batter confirmed that Australia’s upcoming multi-format home series against India Women will mark her final appearance in international cricket.
A veteran of nearly 300 international matches for Australia, Alyssa Healy garnered over 3,000 runs in in each, ODIs and T20Is, and another 489 runs in just 16 Test innings at an average of 30.56. The legendary stumper was part of Australia’s T20 World Cup winning unit on six separate occasions, and lifted the ODI World Cup twice in 2013 and 2022.
Leus du Plooy replaces injured Faf du Plessis, Ferreira to lead in SA20 2025-26
Joburg Super Kings (JSK) captain Faf du Plessis has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing SA20 2025-26 season owing to an injury. The ligament tear he suffered on his right thumb earlier requires immediate surgery.
The JSK franchise has now named England middle-order batter Leus du Plooy as a replacement for the injured veteran. Moreover, the franchise also appointed Donavon Ferreira as their new captain for the remainder of their campaign.
Punjab, Vidarbha fire into Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 semifinals
Punjab and Vidarbha cricket teams won their respective quarter-finals to qualify for the semifinals of the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy season. Punjab eclipsed Madhya Pradesh by 183 runs at the CoE 1 in Bengaluru. Batting first, half-centuries from Harnoor Singh, captain Prabhsimran Singh, number three Anmolpreet Singh and Nehal Wadhera catapulted Punjab to 345-6 in 50 overs, before bowlers Gurnoor Brar and Sanvir Singh enveloped Madhya Pradesh for just 162.
Vidarbha, meanwhile, pummelled Delhi by 76 runs riding on Yash Rathod’s majestic 86 and a four-wicket haul from fast bowler Nachiket Bhute.
Afghanistan name Toby Radford as batting coach before T20 World Cup 2026
The Afghanistan Cricket Board has named former Middlesex cricketer Toby Radford as the new batting coach of the Afghanistan men’s cricket team. Moreover, the ACB also named Rob Ahmun as Afghanistan’s new Strength and Conditioning Trainer. The board confirmed Radford’s appointment on a one-year contract, thus making the crucial additions to the team’s support staff just a month before the upcoming 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Radford is expected to join the Afghanistan team before the three-match T20I series against West Indies next week.
Brandon King to lead WI in T20I series vs Afghanistan
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has named a 16-player West Indies squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in the UAE. Brandon King has been appointed as captain in the place of regular skipper Shai Hope.
It is worth noting that Hope, as well as other West Indies players like Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein and Sherfane Rutherford will be missing the series owing to their SA20 2025-26 commitments in South Africa. The series between West Indies and Afghanistan will be played between January 19 and January 22 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
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