Team Australia Captain Alyssa Healy to Miss T20 tour of New Zealand

• Team Australia Captain Alyssa Healy will miss T20 tour of New Zealand in March
• Back-up wicketkeeper Nicole Faltum to replace Alyssa in the tour
• After the replacement, Nicole will play her first international tour

Alyssa Healy, the captain of Team Australia will be missing T20 tour of New Zealand taking place on March 2025. She will be replaced by back-up wicketkeeper Nicole Faltum who will play her first international tour.

Alyssa was battling knee and foot injuries since midway through 2024 and has been left on ice for the entire series since she was attempting to regain full fitness for ODI World Cup in October. Traditionally, the team has placed Beth Mooney as a wicketkeeper in the absence of Healy while her permanent selection in the side will result certain changes in the XI. However, the selectors are including Faltum in the 14-woman squad involving 25-year-old Victorian who has been considered a next-in-line talent.

In a statement, chief selector Shawn Flegler stated, “It's exciting to be able to bring Nicole into the squad. She's been a consistent performer over a long period of time. (She) will provide a strong back-up option to Beth, who will take the gloves during the series. While Beth was brilliant during the Ashes in Alyssa's absence, it's important we're continuing to look to the future and Nicole is certainly someone who we can see wearing the green and gold for a long period of time.”

Shawn added, “Alyssa is unavailable for this series due to the foot injury she sustained during the Ashes. She's working diligently on her rehab with the aim to have her fit for the one-day World Cup later in the year.”