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Cricket fans blown away by Alyssa Healy's pre-match moment in historic women's Test

The Aussie captain continued an incredible streak of luck against South Africa.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·5-min read
Alyssa Healy won seven out of seven tosses in the multi-format series against South Africa. Image: Getty/Australian Women's Cricket Team
Alyssa Healy won seven out of seven tosses in the multi-format series against South Africa. Image: Getty/Australian Women's Cricket Team

Alyssa Healy won yet another coin toss as Australia sent South Africa in to bat in their historic women's cricket Test on Thursday, making it a perfect seven from seven for the multi-format series. Healy won the coin flip at the WACA and opted to bowl first, continuing an absurd streak of good fortune for the Aussie captain.

Healy won the toss in all three ODI matches at the start of the series, before doing the exact same for the three T20s that followed. By winning the toss in the Test match, it means she won all seven for the series.

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The first Test ever played between Australia and South Africa in women's cricket is the finale of the multi-format series, which encompasses the ODI and T20 matches as well. Points are accumulated throughout the seven-match series, with Australia already securing the series before the Test started.

Cricket fans were blown away by Healy's streak of good luck after she came out on the winning side of the toss again on Thursday. The feat of perfection was the talk of fans before the first ball.

Marizanne Kapp ruled out in late drama for South Africa

The lead-up to the match was a dramatic one for South Africa, with star all-rounder Marizanne Kapp a late withdrawal due to illness. Kapp, who starred for the Proteas in the ODIs and T20s, was absent from training this week and didn't take her place in the XI on Thursday.

"Kappie is not very well," Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt said at the toss. "She's been exceptional for us with bat and ball, it's a huge loss for us. But we're still looking forward to the game. It's a very big loss for us, but hopefully we'll be able to put up a decent total today."

The Aussies made two changes to their team that lost against India in December, with Sophie Molineux and Darcie Brown coming in at the expense of Jess Jonassen and Lauren Cheatle. It marks Molineux's first international match since October 2021 due to stress fractures and a ruptured ACL.

Despite temperatures reaching 43 degrees on Thursday, Healy said she opted to bowl first to "get the best out of the bowling conditions". And it paid off immediately as South Africa lost two early wickets.

"We're chock full of all-rounders, which is awesome," Healy said. "Molineux has just slotted back in really easily … she looks in a great place with her cricket at the moment."

Darcie Brown, pictured here in the women's cricket Test between Australia and South Africa.
Darcie Brown (L) celebrates after taking the wicket of Anneke Bosch in the women's cricket Test between Australia and South Africa.

Alyssa Healy hoping for a result in women's cricket Test

Healy said earlier this week that she's willing to lose the Test in order to risk winning it because she's sick of seeing draws. "I want to see a result in this Test match ... if we're in a position where we want to go for the win and it might com at a cost then so be it," she said. "We want to see a result, hopefully we're on the right end of it."

The Proteas have only played 13 women's Test matches since 1960, winning just once. Australia have played 78 since 1934, winning 21, losing 11 and drawing a staggering 46 times.

"Last time there was a Test match here there was a result and that's probably all we're really after with the women's game," Healy said, referring to England's 61-run victory in 2014. "What are the best conditions to get a result? Whether it's four days, five days or a wicket conducive to spin.

"We're not really sure just yet, but it feels nice to be here and to be able to run out tomorrow in whites and baggy green, because it's an iconic place to play Test cricket." To be here at the WACA ... in a Test match. It feels right, it feels really cool."

Australia XI: Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Alyssa Healy (capt), Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Sophie Molineux, Kim Garth, Alana King, Darcie Brown.

South Africa XI: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Tazmin Brits, Delmari Tucker, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Masabata Klaas, Ayanda Hlubi

with AAP

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