Alyssa Healy to miss New Zealand WT20Is with foot injury
What's the story
Australia's cricket team captain Alyssa Healy will miss the upcoming T20I tour of New Zealand owing to a foot injury.
However, her ODI World Cup participation remains certain as she continues to recover from a spate of injuries.
In Healy's absence, Melbourne Renegades's Nicole Faltum has been picked in Australia's 14-player squad for the three-match series starting in Auckland on March 21.
Here's more.
Leadership change
McGrath to lead Australia in Healy's absence
Tahlia McGrath will captain the Australian side, with Ashleigh Gardner as her deputy.
Beth Mooney will take over wicketkeeping duties.
"We just see Nic slightly ahead of the others, particularly for the T20 format," Australia chief selector Shawn Flegler told reporters as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
"It's really unlikely that she will play. But we just thought it was a great opportunity for Nicole to come in and be around the group," he added talking about Faltum's chances of playing.
Injury update
Healy's injury history and recovery timeline
Healy, who turns 35 in March, has been dealing with a stress fracture in her right foot.
The injury saw her miss the T20I leg of the Women's Ashes and play as a specialist middle-order batter in the MCG Test after demonstrating her fitness.
Last year, she ruptured her plantar fascia at the T20 World Cup and sustained a knee injury during WBBL, missing several matches.
Comeback plans
Healy's potential return and World Cup prospects
Healy is currently sitting out the ongoing Women's Premier League (WPL) but could return to action at the women's Hundred ahead of an ODI series in India in September.
This series precedes the World Cup.
Flegler was confident about Healy's recovery, saying there's "no doubt that she'll get through to the World Cup."
"We certainly don't want to rush it. As far as I'm aware, there's no risk that she'll miss out on that World Cup,' he added.
Player updates
Molineux and Vlaeminck's recovery status
All-rounder Sophie Molineux is also recovering from a knee injury which ruled her out of the multiformat Ashes series.
"We want to make sure that she's right for that World Cup, we think she'll be an important member of that side," Flegler said about Molineux's return.
However, there's no set timeline for Tayla Vlaeminck's return who dislocated her bowling shoulder during Australia's T20 World Cup match against Pakistan last October.
Her comeback is anticipated at some point next summer.
Healy's
A look at Healy's T20I numbers
The wicketkeeper batter has racked up 3,054 runs at an average of 25.45 across 162 T20Is.
She boasts a strike rate of 129.79 while also smashing one hundred and 17 fifties.
According to ESPNcricinfo, her best T20I score is worth 148*, which she smoked against Sri Lanka back in 2019.
With the gloves, she has managed 128 dismissals (65 catches and 63 stumpings).
Information
A look at Australia's squad
Australia squad for New Zealand tour: Darcie Brown, Nicole Faltum, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (captain), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.