'Tough runs' have Healy on track for World Cup rebound

Alyssa Healy is adamant she is working her way into form with the bat, despite a lean Ashes campaign at the top of the order.

Healy, who was last month named Australia's ODI Player of the Year of 2021, has hit 56 runs in five innings across the three formats, including a pair in the one-off Test at Manuka Oval.

But her best returns of the point-based series have come in the two low-scoring ODIs, hitting 27 at Manuka Oval on Thursday and 22 at Junction Oval on Sunday.

Despite being played at typically batting-friendly venues, neither of the one-day pitches have been conducive to high-scoring matches or the sort of free-flowing batting Healy has made her trademark – Australia successfully defended 205 at in Canberra, then bowled England out for 129 in Melbourne but took 36 overs to reach their target.

However, the 30-year-old has been content to grind her way into form ahead of the ODI World Cup in New Zealand.

"I feel really good," Healy told reporters on Monday.

"I think the best thing that could have happened was these two wickets being a little bit tricky.

"The English bowlers are really skilful, they're using the seam really nicely and not one batter has really flourished in this ODI part of the series.

"Beth Mooney made a beautiful knock in the first one-dayer, but it took her a long while to get going.

"And I think knowing that the wickets are a little bit tricky, and it's hard to get started and hard to get going, making those tough runs early has been the best thing for me.

"It means that my shape's really good, I'm getting in good positions to keep the really good balls out, and I think in my last two dismissals I have found a way to get myself out, which is sort of a weird tick of the box, if that makes any sense.

"I feel like with the conditions not being absolutely perfect for batting, it's been a great test for me and a great test of exactly where things are at, so I'm actually really excited as to how things are tracking."

Healy, who also struggled with the bat throughout the Weber WBBL while carrying an elbow injury that she has since recovered from, will have one last opportunity to impress on home soil for the summer in Tuesday's third and final Ashes ODI, before she and her teammates depart for the one-day World Cup in New Zealand.

Unsure of what conditions they will face across the Tasman, and with the likelihood of playing on wearing pitches later in the tournament, Healy believes she will be well prepared for whatever comes her way.

"If the wickets are similar, I know that I'm in a good place to dig in and make some important runs," she said.

"But if the wickets are flat, I know I'm in a great place to hit the ball like I normally do.

"I'd love to be churning out hundreds or 50s or 60s and setting up big titles for the side, but I guess for me, and where I'm at and how I'm feeling, making a couple of 20s is a bit of a start.

"Hopefully I can just cash in and go on one further whether that be tomorrow, or in a couple of weeks' time."

Australia remains undefeated in the multi-format Ashes but have had to fight their way out of perilous situations on several occasions, including the final hour of the Test when England appeared on track for a historic victory, and defending a total of 205 in the first ODI.

"I think that's probably the most pleasing thing for me personally ... (we've) got ourselves out of a corner (and) we've won games that it hasn't looked like we were going to win," Healy said.

"The fact that we're able to fight, scrap and work our way back into fixtures or win games with our backs against the wall has been really impressive.

"I think leading into a really big World Cup that is hugely important, and I think it's going to give us great confidence knowing that we can back our skills under pressure and get the job done."

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes v England

Australia Ashes squad: Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Stella Campbell, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes (vc), Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland

England Ashes squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver (vc), Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt

Australia lead the multi-format series 8-4

First T20: Australia won by nine wickets

Second T20: No Result

Third T20: Match Abandoned without a ball bowled

Test match: Match Drawn

First ODI: Australia won by 27 runs

Feb 6: Second ODI, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT

Feb 8: Third ODI, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT