SYDNEY—Australian women’s cricket captain Alyssa Healy officially announced her retirement from international cricket on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The 35-year-old legend confirmed that the upcoming home multi-format series against India will be her final assignment, bringing an end to one of the most dominant careers in the history of the sport.
Healy, who took the captaincy from Meg Lanning in 2023, revealed that she had “lost the competitive edge” required to lead at the highest level. In a selfless move, she has also confirmed she will skip the T20I leg of the India series in February to allow the team to transition and prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup without her.
1. The Final Farewell: India Series Schedule
Healy will lead the side one last time in the ODIs and the historic one-off Test at the WACA.
| Match Type | Date | Venue | Healy’s Status |
| 3 T20Is | Feb 15 – Feb 21 | Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide | Withdrawn |
| 3 ODIs | Feb 24 – Mar 1 | Brisbane & Hobart | Captain |
| One-off Test | Mar 6 – Mar 9 | WACA Ground, Perth | Final Match |
2. A Career Defined by Silverware
Since her debut in February 2010, Healy has been the backbone of an Australian side that redefined dominance.
- 8 World Cup Titles: 6 T20 World Cups (2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2023) and 2 ODI World Cups (2013, 2022).
- Finals MVP: Her 170 against England in the 2022 ODI World Cup final remains the highest individual score in any World Cup final (Men’s or Women’s).
- The G.O.A.T Keeper: She retires with 275 international dismissals, a record that cements her status as the premier wicketkeeper of her generation.
3. Why India Brought Out Her Best
Healy’s career is inextricably linked to India. It was against the “Women in Blue” where she achieved her first ODI century in 2018 (a 115-ball 133 in Vadodara) and played her most famous T20I knock—the 75 off 39 balls in the 2020 T20 World Cup Final at a packed MCG. Even in her final year, she hammered 142 against India during the group stages of the 2025 ODI World Cup.
4. What’s Next for Australia?
Cricket Australia now faces the task of finding a successor before the T20 World Cup in June 2026.
- Tahlia McGrath: Current vice-captain and the natural heir apparent.
- Phoebe Litchfield: Recently endorsed by Meg Lanning as a “left-field” captaincy pick.
- Ashleigh Gardner: A senior leader whose “cricket IQ” is highly regarded by the coaching staff.
5. In Her Own Words
“I’ve always felt like I’ve had a competitive edge… but I’ve felt as I’ve got a little bit older, I’ve lost some of that. Waking up and going, ‘just another day of cricket,’ really surprised me because I thought I’d always love it. To finish at home against India—one of the biggest series on our calendar—will be special.” — Alyssa Healy