'My right index finger took a bit of a battering' - Alyssa Healy reveals about gruesome 'dog bite' incident post her surgery

Australian cricketer Alyssa Healy, known for her impeccable skills as a wicketkeeper-batter, recently shared the news of a gruesome dog bite to her right index finger. The incident took place while she was attempting to separate her two Staffordshire bull terrier puppies, Misty and Millie.

Initially, the injury appeared to be career-threatening, but fortunately, there was no damage to the bone or tendon, bringing some relief. However, an artery was involved, making the situation seem worse than it actually was. Healy underwent surgery on Sunday morning and remains optimistic about her recovery, although the timeline is uncertain.

"I've got two puppy dogs who were having a rough and tumble, it got a little more than that and unfortunately got my hand in the wrong place at the wrong time, My right index finger took a bit of a battering. It was quite gory…the positive side of it is that the surgery all went well," Healy was quoted as saying by ESPN Cricinfo. 

"That's probably the best news possible. There was an artery involved which probably made it look more like a crime scene than it needed to be, but the major important things that will take time in coming back weren't affected," the Queensland-born further continued.

Alyssa Healy has undergone a hand surgery after a "freak accident" at home. There is no timeframe for her recovery as yet https://t.co/RrygiYe3gx #WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/QnCJsPesPB

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 22, 2023

Won't lie, when I pulled my finger out initially, I thought I was in strife: Alyssa Healy

The setback couldn't have come at a more unfortunate time, with the WBBL 2023 in full swing and a potential tour to India with the Australian national team on the horizon. The surgery, conducted on Sunday morning, appears to have gone well, but Alyssa Healy's return to the cricket field remains uncertain. She emphasized that her ability to grip the bat and catch the ball effectively will be the key determinant of her comeback.

"Won't lie, when I pulled my finger out initially, I thought I was in strife, but it's all gone smoothly at the moment. Think it will all just come down to function and whether I can continue to grip the bat the way I need to, or catch the ball, but from all reports, which is really early, is that it's all pretty positive," Healy concluded.

Sydney Sixers' captain, Ellyse Perry, acknowledged the magnitude of Healy's injury, calling it a "huge blow" not just for their team but for the entire tournament. Healy is known as one of the most exciting players in the world.