Alyssa Healy to retire from international cricket after home India series

Australia captain Alyssa Healy, one of the most decorated players in the history of women’s cricket, has announced she will retire from all forms of the game following the multi-format home series against India in February–March 2026.

The 35-year-old will not take part in the T20I leg of the series as Australia begin planning for the Women’s T20 World Cup later in the year. 

However, she will feature in the ODI matches before bringing the curtain down on her career with her 11th and final Test appearance in the day-night encounter at the WACA in Perth from March 6 to 9.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Healy said on Willow Talk, the podcast on which she is a regular panellist. “The last few years have been more mentally draining than anything else. There have been a few injuries, and the well is getting less and less full. It’s getting harder to keep diving back in.

“I’ve always prided myself on wanting to compete and win. As I’ve got a little older, I haven’t lost that completely, but I’ve lost some of it. The WBBL last year was probably a bit of a wake-up call. Waking up and thinking ‘just another day of cricket’ really surprised me because I still thought I loved playing the game.”

Healy’s decision means Australia will head into the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup under a new captain.

“That means I’m not going to the T20 World Cup,” she said. “There will be some change within the India series, particularly around leadership, but for me the chance to play at home and still captain the team in that series is really special.

“I would have liked to get to the end of the Test before announcing it, but with me not being part of the T20 World Cup, it forced a decision. It’s given me some peace because I’ve known this for about six months. Finishing at home against India, one of our biggest series, with my team-mates and family around, felt like a really cool way to end.”

Healy made her international debut as a 19-year-old in February 2010 and has since built a glittering career. 

She has scored more than 3,500 runs in ODIs and 3,054 runs in T20Is at an average of 25.45, including a career-best 148 not out — the highest individual T20I score among Full Member nations. 

She has played the second-most T20Is for Australia and holds the record for the most T20I dismissals across men’s and women’s cricket.

Across her career, Healy won six Women’s T20 World Cup titles (2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2023) and two ODI World Cups (2013 and 2022). She was also named ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year in 2018 and 2019.

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg hailed her impact on the game. 

“Alyssa is one of the all-time greats and has made an immeasurable contribution both on and off the field over her 15-year career,” he said. “She has inspired so many and changed the game for the better. We look forward to celebrating her achievements during the series against India.”

Healy is expected to play for New South Wales in the WNCL in the lead-up to the India series but has already played her final match for the Sydney Sixers in the WBBL.

Cricket NSW head of female cricket Leah Poulton described Healy as an “incredible legacy” figure. 

“She’s an entertainer in every sense of the word and an absolute joy to watch. Cricket will miss her on-field presence, but she won’t be lost to the sport.”

Sydney Sixers general manager and former team-mate Rachael Haynes paid tribute to Alyssa Healy, highlighting her influence on and off the field.

 “Midge is a larrikin, a leader and the ultimate team-mate whose impact has pioneered change in our game, especially for female athletes.”