Australia Women's Announce Squad Without Any Captain For India Tour
Australia are without a captain since Lanning's retirement (Twitter)
Australia haven't named a new skipper following the shock retirement of their great captain Meg Lanning ahead of the critical tour of India. With the world champions set to play a historic standalone Test apart from three ODIs and T20Is against the Indians from December 21, the selectors are awaiting full clearance on vice-captain Alyssa Healy before confirming the new leader.
Healy, who is undergoing recovery from a finger injury after an accidental bite from her pet dog, is the frontrunner to act as a replacement for the legendary skipper Lanning after her premature retirement from international cricket brought to the end a golden run for the side.
The 16-player squad for the multi-format tour also features right-arm quick Darcie Brown while she still deals with her injury concerns. The decision-makers are hoping Healy and Brown will be able to make a swift recovery from respective injury troubles in the next four weeks leading into the historic Test match - Australian women's first in India since 1984.
Brown is expected to share new-ball duties with comeback quick Lauren Cheatle, who will be on her first international assignment since March 2019. She has been undergoing rehabilitation for a hamstring injury since the home limited-overs series against the West Indies and could not take part in Adelaide Strikers' Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) campaign.
Alyssa Healy Frontrunner To Replace Meg Lanning?
Healy, Lanning's deputy, is the frontrunner to be the next full-time skipper in a transition phase after donning the captaincy role in her absence over the past one year. The experienced cricketer had publicly put her hand up to be the next senior player at the helm of affairs as the Aussie women's side looks to retain its esteemed standards and continue dominating world cricket.
Holding bar on Healy's immediate ascent to the captaincy on India tour, however, is a finger injury that the Cricket Australia (CA) medical staff continues to monitor closely before the team travels across to the subcontinent for a full series.
"Alyssa Healy's finger is healing but remains in a splint and our medical team are continuing to monitor her recovery closely. We're obviously very hopeful she will be available for the Test, but those decisions are still a while away," national selector Shawn Flegler said.
Australia squad: Darcie Brown, Lauren Cheatle (Test only), Heather Graham, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris (T20), Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham
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