Healy sets new world record at the MCG

Alyssa Healy’s superb summer has reached record-breaking levels – officially.

Australia’s star wicketkeeper-batter has set a new Guinness World Record for the ‘highest catch of a cricket ball’, achieving the feat at the MCG to promote the start of the ICC T20 World Cup next year.

Healy caught a ball dropped from a drone 80 metres above the MCG turf – the height of the top of the light towers at the famous venue - breaking the record of 62 metres set by Englishman Kristan Baumgartner in 2016.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain had held the previous record of 49 metres.

“After I didn't get a hand on the first practice and then the next one went straight through my gloves there was cause for concern,” Healy said after her early attempts at a 64m catch were unsuccessful.

“You don’t get the cue from the ball going up in the air off the bat and it was swinging a lot on the way down because it just gets dropped.

“As you can tell in the video, it was pure elation to get it, I didn’t want everyone to come and not get the record so when I’d secured it in the gloves I carried on like a bit of a pork chop but overjoyed to break the record.”

After breaking the record of 64 metres, Healy then set new benchmarks of 70 and 80 metres.

Healy’s record comes 12 months out from the start of next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia, where the Aussies will look to defend the title they won in the Caribbean last November.

The tournament will finish with the final at the MCG on March 8, 2020 – International Women’s Day – when it’s hoped another world record will fall.

“It's a nice correlation between what the ICC and Cricket Australia are trying to work towards in breaking the world record for attendance at a women’s sporting fixture for the final on International Women’s Day,” Healy said.

“It was a thrill to be part of a world record so for everyone out there in Australia and around the world that wants to do the same thing, it’s easy for everyone to jump online and buy tickets to be part of something special.”

Australia will open the World Cup with a match against India at Sydney Showground Stadium on Friday 21 February 2020.

Tickets for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup can be purchased here from midday AEDT Thursday Feb 21

CommBank ODIs v NZ 

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Georgia Wareham

New Zealand squad: Amy Satterthwaite (c), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Katie Perkins, Anna Peterson, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

February 22: First ODI, WACA Ground, Perth

February 24: Second ODI, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

March 3: Third ODI, Junction Oval, Melbourne