Former Australian captain Alex Blackwell has warned the national women’s team doesn’t need to commit to a long-term skipper following the retirement of Alyssa Healy, endorsing all-rounder Ash Gardner and young gun Phoebe Litchfield for the role.
Healy confirmed her retirement from all forms of cricket on Tuesday morning, with her 16-year international career to conclude following the upcoming multi-format series against India, while March’s Test match at the WACA will be her final appearance for Australia.
The 35-year-old has represented Australia 295 times across formats, scoring 7106 runs and completing 275 dismissals with the gloves. She won six T20 World Cup titles and lifted the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand in 2022, while she was a member of the triumphant squad from the 2013 edition of the tournament.
Healy took over the Australian captaincy following Meg Lanning’s retirement in 2023, leading her country on 58 occasions.
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“I think Alyssa has played an incredible role,” said Blackwell, who was inducted into the Cricket NSW Hall of Fame last week.
“It’s not easy after all that success to come in. She has been successful in the way she has performed as captain.
“I think she has been terrific.”
Australia’s attention turns towards looking for a new captain ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup campaign in the United Kingdom, with Healy admitting her retirement created a “really exciting” opportunity for the next group of young leaders within the national side.
“There’s plenty (of options) in there,” Healy told reporters on Tuesday.
“That’s probably where I feel really lucky, to have been able to be a part of creating an environment where young leaders are able to flourish and express themselves and hopefully become the next Australian captain and do some amazing things.”
Australia only has six T20Is scheduled until the major ICC tournament commences in June, but Blackwell emphasised a long-term option doesn’t need to be rushed into the role, acknowledging that Healy was 33 when she took over as skipper.
“You don’t always have to pick for a decade; short-term captaincy is an option,” Blackwell said.
“There could be players to just get us through a couple of years and a World Cup, rather than rushing captains.”
She added: “Perhaps Alyssa’s appointment was not necessarily a very long-term decision made there. I’m not sure what they’ll do, but I think definitely you don’t always have to pick long-term.”
Asked about Healy’s potential replacement, Blackwell declared there “some great leaders” within the Australian squad, name-checking Gardner and Litchfield as potential national captains in waiting. Gardner took over the Sydney Sixers captaincy from veteran all-rounder Ellyse Perry this summer, while 22-year-old Litchfield has led the Sydney Thunder for two seasons. Earlier this summer, Sixers coach Matthew Mott endorsed Gardner’s credentials as the country’s next captain, predicting that she would “become one of the better leaders that has ever been produced in Australian cricket”.
“Ash is developing into an outstanding leader for Australian cricket,” Mott told reporters in November.
“Her cricket IQ is as high as anyone in the world at the moment, and she’s learned from some of the great leaders in Australian cricket, so it’s just cherry-ripe now for her to take this team.”
While many would question whether Litchfield was too young for the role, Lanning hadn’t even celebrated her 22nd birthday when she took over the captaincy from Jodie Fields in 2014, going on to become one of Australian cricket’s most successful leaders.
“She’s got a very level head on her shoulders,” Healy said of Litchfield in November.
“She’s already shown that she’s come in and settled herself nicely into the team, and I think she’s got a really good temperament too. So I think she’s certainly an option.”
Healy to retire after India series | 00:43
All-rounder Tahlia McGrath, who has served as Healy’s deputy since 2023, is another candidate to take over the role, but the South Australian is at risk of losing her spot in the national side following a worrying dip in form.
The 30-year-old averaged 14.00 during this summer’s Women’s Big Bash League campaign with the Adelaide Strikes, maintaining a dismal strike rate of 91.58, while she contributed five wickets across ten matches. It comes after she accumulated 55 runs at 13.75 during Australia’s unsuccessful World Cup quest in the subcontinent, having been demoted to No. 7.
Although McGrath is the heir apparent, national selectors may feel inclined to look elsewhere courtesy of her struggles with the willow.
“I’ve seen Tahlia in action as a leader, and she is quiet and confident as a leader,” Blackwell said.
“She has got what it takes to lead a side, if she can get back to her form. That’s a viable option as well.
“She was the best T20 player in the world just a short while ago. She admits her game hasn’t been quite there. Everyone goes through that.
“So I think she is definitely an option we shouldn’t forget about.”
Healy also praised McGrath’s credentials as Australian captain, predicting she would do a “fantastic job” if given the gig.
“T-Mac’s greatest quality outside of her tactical nous is how cool, calm and collected she is under pressure, and I think she’s showcased that over the last 12 to 18 months when I’ve missed games here and there,” she said.
“Her ability to just step in and take charge and do it her own way has been really impressive.
“She’s obviously been vice captain, so it obviously might look a natural choice, but she’s done an outstanding job, and I think her confidence has continued to grow in that space.”
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