Having returned to form in a record-breaking run chase against India, Alyssa Healy says Australia have the belief to win any game from any situation
Back to her best, Healy says nothing is off limits
Alyssa Healy says the belief that left her certain she would end her recent run of low scores has been driving the entire Australian squad in their unbeaten World Cup campaign.
Fresh off sealing their place in the tournament semi-finals, Healy said she was equally convinced Australia would pull off a World Cup record chase of 277 against India on Saturday and believes her team can win from any position.
Healy's score of 72 at Eden Park set up the successful pursuit against India, and was just the third time in 18 innings the hard-hitting opener has passed 50 in international cricket this season and follows the 72 she scored against Pakistan in Mount Maunganui earlier in the tournament.
"Something that we pride ourselves on in this group is that ability to potentially win a game from anywhere, in any situation," she said on Sunday. "And when our backs are against the wall, we fight our way out of that.
"I think that's exactly what you need in ODI cricket, it's exactly what you need in World Cup cricket as well; you just need to find a way to win games.
"The first half of our game yesterday wasn't perfect (but) it wasn't disastrous. I thought they could have put 300 on (the board) and if we'd batted first, we'd have been looking at that score.
"(But) it wasn't perfect, which is probably a good thing. You don't want to be playing your perfect cricket now, so to get the job done the way we did was pleasing."
Healy's place at the top of the order alongside Rachael Haynes has never been in doubt despite a string of low scores at the start of the multi-format Ashes, which followed a below-par WBBL as the 31-year-old battled an elbow injury.
But ever the big-game player, she stepped up in style during her 65-ball knock against India, while in an ominous sign for other teams, captain Meg Lanning also found form with a match-winning 97.
"Honestly, I've felt good for most of the summer ... I just haven't been able to make the amount of runs that I would like to make," Healy said.
"But I've never been stressed at any point.
"I've worked really hard on my batting technically, and I feel technically in a really good place. It's just about putting it all together when the opportunity comes to step out in the middle.
"Yesterday was a great pat on the back for both myself and Meg.
"We shared a net together (on Friday) and we tried to pump one another's tyres up, knowing that runs were just around the corner.
"It's a great confidence boost heading into what is the pointy end of the tournament, knowing that everyone else is flying around us."
Part of what allows Healy to play her aggressive brand of cricket is the depth of the Australian batting line-up.
Haynes is leading the tournament run-scorers, while Lanning at No.3 is followed by Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath and Ashleigh Gardner.
That sort of composure and consistency of selection has been lacking for some of Australia's main rivals. England dropped opener Lauren Winfield-Hill and promoted Danni Wyatt a few games into the tournament, and India have likewise brought opener Shafali Verma in and out of their XI.
South Africa's changes have been forced, with Lizelle Lee a late arrival in New Zealand after the birth of her son and with captain Dane van Niekerk missing due to injury, but West Indies were experimenting with different opening combinations throughout the warm-up matches, and New Zealand did likewise during their pre-tournament series against India.
"It's the whole batting unit," Healy said. "The top seven is pretty settled and it has been for a period of time now, when we've all been fit and on the park.
"Having that confidence in what those seven batters can do is really just a free license for the rest of us play the way that we do.
"We know that if we all come off on one day, it's going to be a ridiculous score and if we don't come off, there's six other players that are potentially going to come off (instead).
"We give one another confidence that we can go out there and play our game naturally."
Australia will face another big test at Wellington's Basin Reserve on Tuesday, when they meet undefeated South Africa in a clash that could determine who finishes the round-robin stage on top of the table.
The teams have not met in an ODI since the 2017 World Cup, and have played just one T20I during that period.
ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022
Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington. Travelling reserves: Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne
Australia's World Cup 2022 fixtures
Mar 5: Beat England by 12 runs
Mar 8: Beat Pakistan by seven wickets
Mar 13: Beat New Zealand by 141 runs
Mar 15: Beat West Indies by seven wickets
Mar 19: Beat India by six wickets
Mar 22: v South Africa, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT
Mar 25: v Bangladesh, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WORLD CUP SCHEDULE
Semi-finals
Mar 30: Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT
Mar 31: Hagley Park Christchurch, 12pm AEDT
Final
Apr 3: Hagley Park Christchurch, 11am AEDT
All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports