Alyssa Healy hopes to be fit for Australia’s tour of India after surgery for a bloody injury to her index finger suffered when she put her hand between her two dogs as they fought.
Key points:
- Alyssa Healy was rushed to hospital after being bitten on her right index finger.
- She had surgery on her hand, but told reporters she had no damage to her bones or tendons.
- Healy said she hoped to return to cricket for the Sixers later in the WBBL season.
Healy was rushed to hospital on Saturday evening after suffering a strange injury to her right index finger courtesy of her two Staffordshire bull terriers.
Australia’s stand-in captain admitted she initially feared the worst, but now hopes to return later in the WBBL season for the Sydney Sixers.
That would put her on track for Australia’s multi-format tour of India, which is scheduled to begin with a day-night Test on December 21.
“The positive sign is that there was no damage to the bones or tendons, no ruptures. That’s the best news possible,” Healy told reporters in a video news conference from his home .
“I think there was an artery involved, which probably made it look more like a crime scene than it should. It was pretty bloody.
“When I took my finger out at first, I thought I was conflicted. But everything has been fine so far.
“I would say it’s more short term than long term at the moment, the way people are talking.”
Healy will meet surgeons again on Thursday and then hopes to have a clearer picture of the injury.
Captaining Australia during the last Ashes series and against the West Indies, Healy is expected to return to the role of assistant if Meg Lanning makes her national return to India.
If neither is available, Tahlia McGrath would likely take the reins.
Healy’s injury is to the opposite index finger to the one she fractured twice in June and July during Australia’s tour of England and Ireland.
The wicketkeeper’s pain adds to the inglorious list of off-field injuries to cricketers in recent years.
Former Sixers teammate Dane Van Niekerk missed part of the 2021-22 WBBL after cutting her finger while cutting an avocado.
Glenn Maxwell’s hopes of reviving his Test career in India this year were ended when he slipped and broke his leg at a party, while England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow suffered a similar injury on the field golf last year.
Healy joked that she should have a group chat so the group could work out their issues, but that she more immediately needed to address issues with her two dogs.
“The good news is we’re still friends,” she said.
“They’re probably a little less resilient than me, but we’re still friends.
“We all sat on the couch together last night and debriefed the situation and we all get along great.”
The Sixers will consider finding a replacement player for Healy, with teenage wicketkeeper Kate Pelle taking the gloves in Sunday’s loss to the Sydney Thunder.
PAA
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