Alyssa Healy back for series against New Zealand but may not play all games

Australian captain Alyssa Healy will return to open the batting in the opening ODI against New Zealand on Thursday but conceded managing her return from a knee injury made her a “day to day” prospect for the three match series, conscious of the upcoming Ashes.

Healy, who missed most of the WBBL and the recent ODI series against India, has been picked for the three-match series as a batter only to ease the workload on her knees confirming she won’t keep wicket against the Kiwis.

But with three 50-over games to be played across just five days, the skipper conceded it was a wait and see prospect to play all matches, although having played little cricket in recent times she was keen to “find some runs”.

“I won’t be wicketkeeping this series but there’s not a lot of cricket leading in to the Ashes (in January) so it’s an opportunity for me to get back on the park, mainly as a batter and try and find some runs,” she said.

“But also to get back on the field. I feel like I’ve hardly played any cricket in the last eight or nine months. The knee is tracking well, it’s a day by day thing, we’ll assess as we go.”

Australian coach Shelley Nitschke conceded the tight turnarounds could impact Healy’s availability.

“It depends what workload she will get in a particular game and we will just assess after each game with … what we’ve got coming after Christmas.”

Healy conceded it would be “stiff” for boom youngster Georgia Voll, who scored a century in just her second game as a replacement at the top of the order to miss out in New Zealand.

But Healy said there could be another roll for Voll with “opportunities” for all squad members important across the three matches.

“I think we go in to every game picking out best batting line-up. I can see her playing a role wherever it might be,” she said.

“The more we can give people opportunity throughout this series, we’re looking to win first and foremost, but if everyone gets on the park and has a good run around I think it will be a good thing”.

Nitschke said it was a good problem to have trying to find a spot for a player like Voll in particular.

“Volly was fantastic coming in as a debutant and having the series she had,” she said.

“It was so good to see we can bring someone in and have her perform and fit into the group so well.

“She is making a case for herself and see where that lands. We have so many options with both bat and ball.”