Alyssa Healy joins husband Mitchell Starc in unwanted '99' club for Australia

Australia's women's team captain Alyssa Healy narrowly missed achieving her first Test century during the only Test against Laura Wolvaardt's South Africa at the WACA in Perth.

Batting at No.5, captain Healy scored 99 runs off 124 balls with the help of 16 fours in the first innings on Thursday. Just as she seemed poised for a three-figure score, off-spinner Delmi Tucker claimed her wicket.

Healy attempted to play the ball down to long on, but all she achieved was a leading edge. Tucker took a straightforward catch off her own bowling to dismiss Healy.

However, with her knock, Healy made sure that Australia finished day one with a lead of 175 runs with 5 wickets left in their first innings.

Alyssa Healy joins Mitchell Starc in 99 club

Healy currently holds a top score of 99 in Test cricket, surpassing her previous best of 58 against England in 2019. Interestingly, her husband, Mitchell Starc, also has the highest score of 99 in Test cricket. In March 2013, Starc scored 99 against India in the first innings of a Test at the PCA Stadium in Mohali.

Meanwhile, Healy has become the 27th Australian and the fourth Australian woman to be dismissed on 99. Jess Jonassen, Jill Kennare, and Ellyse Perry are the other Australian women who have also been dismissed on 99 in Women’s Tests.

In her career spanning nine Tests so far, Healy has accumulated 455 runs at an average of 30.33, featuring three half-centuries. On the other hand, Starc has amassed 2044 runs with 10 half-centuries to his name.

Earlier in the day, the hosts bowled South Africa out for 76 in 31.2 overs after opting to field first. Australia found themselves in trouble after being reduced to 12 for 3 in 4.5 overs. However, Healy and Beth Mooney’s 155-run stand brought them back into the match.