Women's Ashes 2025: Why is Alyssa Healy not playing first T20I?
Australia star players Alyssa Healy and Ashleigh Gardner miss out on first T20I of the Women's Ashes against England Women due to injury.
Australia Women and England Women shifted their focus to the T20I leg of the ongoing Women's Ashes 2025, as the first match of the series got underway on Monday, January 20 at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney.
Even before entering into the contest, the hosts were hit by major setbacks as their skipper Alyssa Healy and star all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner could not take part in the important clash against England due to respective injuries. Earlier in the day, Cricket Australia (CA) had give intimation regarding Healy's absence from the match, and that she may not be able to take part for the remainder of the series due to a mid-foot soreness.
“Alyssa has developed mid-foot soreness on the same side as her previous plantar fascia injury following the ODI series," Cricket Australia (CA) stated in a release on match day morning.
“Cricket Australia's medical team is consulting with specialists to develop an appropriate management plan over the coming days. Her availability for the remainder of the series will be assessed as more information becomes available." it added.
As a result, Tahlia McGrath was handed the duty to lead Australia as the interim skipper for the home side. Gardner, on the other hand, was ruled out of the game due to a low-grade calf strain during the ODI series. While Gardner will be assessed for 48 hours until the next game the statement by Cricket Australia on Healy’s injury has made her availability doubtful.
Georgia Voll and Grace Harris were the couple of players that came in to replace the injured duo, as McGrath revealed her Playing XI at the toss. Meanwhile, English skipper Heather Knight won the toss and asked the Aussie women to set a target.
"I was told to hold on for a sec (before the toss), but it's all good. Ashleigh Gardner has a calf strain, Harris comes into the side. Really excited for Georgia Voll, she has been on the sidelines, but she is raring to go. She (Grace Harris) can bat at any stage," McGrath said at the toss.
"We are going to bowl, looks a decent surface. Want to chase under lights. Really pumped today, it's a decent place to play cricket and this is the format we are good at, hopefully we have some good crowd coming in," Knight said after winning the toss.
Also Check: SL vs AUS 2025: Captain Steven Smith suffers elbow injury ahead of series
Women's Ashes first T20I Playing XIs
Australia Women: Georgia Voll, Beth Mooney (wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Tahlia McGrath (c), Grace Harris, Georgia Wareham, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt
England Women: Maia Bouchier, Wyatt Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight(c), Amy Jones(wk), Freya Kemp, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell
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