Brisbane, February 23 – Alyssa Healy, Australia's top wicket-keeper-batter, said that the Indian team played excellent cricket to win the recently concluded T20I series 2-1, but added that the hosts will be fully prepared to "fight back" against the "Women in Blue" in the upcoming three-match ODI series starting on Tuesday.
Healy announced her retirement ahead of the home series against India, stating that she will retire after leading the Aussies in the one-off Test match, starting on March 6.
Australia had recently lost a 2-1 T20I series to India, which underlined the visitors' growing confidence and depth. On the eve of the ODI series opener, Healy, who will be playing the final One-Day International series of her career, struck a tone that was both respectful and defiant, making it clear that the hosts see the ODI leg as an opportunity to respond.
"They are playing some really good cricket. We are facing a significant challenge at the moment, and they are full of confidence, which they rightfully deserve. They are playing very well, and they have a major trophy to their credit, and they have every right to come out here and play the way they have," Healy told reporters at The Gabba.
India's recent success, including their ODI World Cup triumph and the hard-fought T20I series win on Australian soil, has shifted the balance of power between the two heavyweights. But as the format changes to 50 overs, Healy believes the contest will reset.
"I think for us, it's now a challenge to bounce back and show our strength in this format, and demonstrate that this is our home ground, these are our conditions, and this is the way we play ODIs. Hopefully, we can do that," she said.
The three-match ODI series, beginning on Tuesday, offers Australia a chance to reassert themselves in conditions they traditionally dominate. Healy acknowledged India’s pedigree, describing them as a side worthy of their status, saying, "We know they are a talented team; they are the world champions, and for the first time in a while, we have an opportunity to challenge them. So I am looking forward to that."
For Australia, the recent T20I loss has also been framed internally as part of a broader evolution. The team that was once scrutinized for dropping a single match in a multi-game series is now navigating a generational shift and embracing it.
"100 per cent. When you look at our squad over the last probably five or six years, we have been transitioning naturally anyway. So, it's taken place. I remember the absolute uproar when we lost a game in India. At one point, we lost one game out of a six or seven-game series, and it was a big issue for the Australian team. So now, to sit back and reflect on losing that first game of a series, it's actually an opportunity for our side to sit back, reflect, review, and say, 'This is how we can improve, and we can continue to challenge a really good team'," Healy mentioned.
Cricket Australia has named Sophie Molineux as Healy's successor, and the all-rounder took up her first captaincy assignment with the T20I series, which the home team lost 1-2. As Healy looks ahead to the remainder of the series and beyond, her belief in the group’s direction remains unwavering.
"I think the future is in great hands. I am looking forward to seeing what this team can offer over the next 10 to 15 years. And I have no doubt that we will bounce back pretty quickly."
With momentum on India's side and pride on the line for Australia, the ODI series promises to be another compelling chapter in a rivalry that continues to raise the bar in women's cricket.
