Alyssa Healy Ruled Out, Tahlia McGrath Leads Australia
Nicole Faltum's call-up to the squad is a testament to her strong performance in the domestic circuit and the Women's Big Bash League. With her impressive strike rate and average, she is expected to make a significant contribution to the team in Healy's absence. The series against New Zealand will be an important test for Australia, and the team will be looking to perform well under Tahlia McGrath's leadership.
Australia's captain and wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy has been ruled out of the upcoming three-T20I series against New Zealand due to a foot injury, with Tahlia McGrath set to lead the team in her place. Healy, who has a 13.83 average, is yet to recover from an injury that was aggravated during the Ashes at home.
The 14-player squad will feature Nicole Faltum, a 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Victoria, who has scored 429 runs in the Women's Big Bash League with a strike rate of 134.65. Faltum has been in good form, scoring 136 runs at an average of 27.20 in the previous edition of the WBBL. She replaces Beth Mooney, who kept wickets in the T20I and Test leg of the Women's Ashes.
The series will begin on March 21 at Eden Park, Auckland, and will be played at three different venues. Tahlia McGrath will lead the team, with Ashleigh Gardner as her deputy, in the absence of regular captain Alyssa Healy. Australia's chief selector, Shawn Flegler, is confident that Healy will recover in time for the World Cup, saying "there's no doubt that she'll get through to the World Cup".
Healy is targeting a return to the field at the women's Hundred ahead of the ODI series in India in September. Her recovery is crucial for Australia's chances in the ODI World Cup, and the team will be hoping that she can regain her fitness in time to lead the team to success.