Alyssa Healy signs three-year deal with Sydney Sixers ahead of WBBL 23-24

Australia stand-in skipper Alyssa Healy has signed a three-year contract with the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) franchise Sydney Sixers ahead of the ninth edition of the competition. Notably, the lucrative T20 event will commence on October 19, as the Sixers will be up against Melbourne Stars in the curtain raiser of the tournament.

With her contract expiring last summer in 2022, Healy is set to remain a vital part of the setup as she decided to pen down a new deal that will run until the end of the 2025-26 season. After leading the national team as the stand-in skipper during the Women’s Ashes, Healy feels ‘reinvigorated’ and has a different way of looking at the game.

"The only thing we pondered was how long we wanted the deal to be. The beauty of the situation is I have had an exciting opportunity to captain the side in the Ashes. Whether that is something that will happen moving forward or not doesn't matter. It has reinvigorated the way I think about the game and the way I am enjoying it,” Healy was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

"There is an exciting 12 months ahead with World Cups and trips to Bangladesh. I am still loving playing for Australia, but the WBBL is great to be part of. It's made me think about what I need as an individual. But being a skipper you don't have time to think about anything. You are focusing on the game and tactics, and I forgot to think about what I need to make sure I perform. It has made me think about my game and what I can do to be better,” she added.

Notably, the 33-year-old will lead the national team in the forthcoming T20I and ODI home series against the West Indies, considering that Meg Lanning has been ruled out. Meanwhile, in the recently concluded WBBL draft, the Sixers roped in the likes of Jess Kerr and Chloe Tryon. Notably, Ellyse Perry re-signed for two more years with the Sixers and will continue leading the franchise in the upcoming season. 

Sydney Sixers WBBL 9 Squad: Alyssa Healy, Jade Allen, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Lauren Cheatle, Ash Gardner, Emma Hughes, Jess Kerr, Kate Peterson, Ellyse Perry (c), Chloe Tryon.