Alyssa Healy replaces Meg Lanning as Australia captain

Healy, with Tahlia McGrath as vice-captain, has large boots to fill in Lanning's but successfully retained the Women's Ashes during the summer as stand-in, a role that she has held at various points over the last year

Nick Friend | 09/12/2023 at 15:30

Alyssa Healy has been named as Australia Women's new captain following the international retirement of Meg Lanning.

Healy has large boots to fill in Lanning's but successfully retained the Women's Ashes during the summer as stand-in, a role that she has held at various points over the last year.

Lanning was in charge for the T20 World Cup win in South Africa earlier in 2023, as well as the Commonwealth Games gold in the summer of 2022. But Healy's prior experience means there ought not to be too great a teething process.

"I am honoured to accept the role of captain and am grateful for the opportunity to lead our team," said Healy, who will have Tahlia McGrath as her appointed vice-captain.

"I've really enjoyed the support of the players over the past few months and their encouragement to continue to be who I am and lead the group like I normally would from within.

"My approach will remain consistent to what it has been previously. But I'll make my own mark on the role and be sure that I'm doing the best I possibly can for this group to maintain the success that we've had.

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^{Meg Lanning stepped aside from international cricket, having accomplished all there was to achieve (Kelly Defina/Getty Images)}

"It's an exciting time to be involved with this team, we're seeing the emergence of incredible young talent and are challenging ourselves to continually evolve as a group."

McGrath added: "It's a privilege to have been offered the vice-captaincy and I'm excited to support Alyssa as she takes on the captaincy.

"Alyssa and I have played together for a long time, we know our respective leadership styles well and I look forward to helping her lead our group."

Lanning, who led an all-conquering, record-breaking team, had been Australia's captain since replacing Jodie Fields in 2014, standing in during the Women's Ashes while just 21 years of age, before taking over on a full-time basis over all formats in June of the same year.

Healy's first task at the helm will come in a one-off Test against India in Mumbai, before three-match ODI and T20I series against the same opposition.