'Have to do a lot to stop me' - Alyssa Healy confident of India Test fitness
The wicketkeeper is set to be confirmed as Australia's new captain in the coming days
AAP
08-Dec-2023
Alyssa Healy is on track to return to action in India • Getty Images
Alyssa Healy has declared herself a near-certain starter for Australia's Test against India in Mumbai.
The star wicketkeeper-batter missed all-but one match of the WBBL after badly hurting her finger while trying to break up a fight between her two dogs.
Healy has returned to training and is preparing to face India at the famous Wankhede Stadium in the red-ball Test, starting on December 21.
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"I assume I'll be out there [for the Test], they're going to have to do a lot to stop me walking out there and catching the first delivery," she said at the Kayo Summer of Cricket launch on Friday. "Everything's going really, really well.
"I started back in the nets the last week-and-a-half so I'm all on track to fly to India on Wednesday for a big series over there."
Healy will be confirmed as Australia's new captain as early as this weekend after the Cricket Australia board met on Friday.
The 33-year-old will step into the role full-time after long-time teammate Meg Lanning's shock international retirement. Healy has filled in for Lanning as captain for extended spells over the last two years, including this year's Ashes.
"Obviously we leave on Wednesday so having some sort of clarity and assurance for the team before we fly out would be great," she said. "If it was me, it'd be unbelievably exciting. I feel like I've been warming the seat for 18 months for Meg to come back and obviously with Meg's news it was a bit of a shock.
"To go over to India and captain a multi-format series would be really exciting for whoever does get the job. If it's me, then you beauty!"
The match in Mumbai will be the first Test in India for the Australian women since 1984. The tour of India will also feature three ODIs and T20s, and run over the Christmas and New Year period.