Ellyse Perry dropped the biggest hint that Australian captain Alyssa Healy won’t recover in time for Friday morning’s T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa as she revealed how staying “connected” to injured teammates was helping drive their quest for a fourth-straight title.
While the Aussies were training in Dubai ahead of the clash, Healy was back at the team hotel watching the West Indies knock England out of the tournament, still nursing a sore foot that could sideline her for the final as well, should Australia make it.
Team officials still haven’t disclosed specifics around the nature of Healy’s aliment, but she was wearing a boot and on crutches when she watched that final group game at Sharjah Cricket Stadium last Sunday.
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Perry, who has won seven World Cups across T20 and ODI tournaments, suggested the team’s medical staff would give the captain “every opportunity and possibility to play”, knowing her own on-field leadership could prove pivotal for stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath.
“I’ve been really fortunate to be among the group for a period of time now, and I think across the group, we’ve got a broad level of experienced players and leaders,” Perry said.
“Providing that support to whether it’s Midge (Healy) or Tahlia at different points during matches is something I’ve always done, along with lots of other players.
“It probably looked a little bit different with not having Midge on the field the other night, but in terms of the messaging and how we spoke, it was all the same.
“The medical staff and the team are going to give her every opportunity and possibility to play tomorrow night, but I don’t think anything’s changed in that respect. We’ll just have to see in the next 24 hours.”
Healy revealed to the Willow Talk podcast this week that her foot was “bloody sore” when she injured it without declaring if she could return to play during the tournament.
“At the time (it’s) not much fun, I will put it that way (but) thankfully, it wasn’t my calf,” Healy said.
“I’m still in the squad, so I haven’t been replaced and there’s still the chance that I can take part in this tournament.
“It was bloody sore at the time … as you could probably tell by the extra expression on my face, but it’s play on and hopefully get myself right for either a semi or a final.”
Perry said supporting injured teammates, like Healy, had been a crucial element of the bonding that has put Australia on track for another title.
“I think when stuff like that happens and you see things bring a mate down like injury, it probably just strengthens that resolve to get around each other and be supportive,” she said.
“But I guess too, it’s really important to stay consistent and stick to the same processes that we’ve got and I guess maintain that level of emotional consistency too.
“Obviously, Midge is such an important leader in our group and is still contributing just as much, so not too much has changed but certainly I hope we’ve all been really good teammates.”
Unbeaten so far at the tournament, the Australians have won 14 consecutive T20 World Cup games and South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt said it was important for her team not to get “swept away in Australia and what they’ve achieved”.
“If we play a good game of cricket, I think we have the talent to beat them,” she said.
“We’ve shown that in the one T20 earlier this year that we did. You can see the same with England and India not qualifying for semis who you thought would have. T20 cricket is a bit crazy sometimes, anything can happen, and we just think if we keep it simple, focus on ourselves, we can do anything on the day.”
