Injured Healy awaits post-surgery timeline for return

The winless Sydney Sixers will be without the services of Alyssa Healy for the coming weeks at least after the superstar 'keeper-batter underwent finger surgery following an incident on Saturday night involving some "rough and tumble" with her dogs.

Healy will check in with her surgeon this Thursday to get a clearer picture of her return-to-play timeline, though she is optimistic the prognosis isn't as serious as they first feared, with no bone or tendon damage.

"I won't lie to you, when I pulled my finger out initially, I thought I was in strife," Healy said. "I think there was an artery involved which probably made it look more like a crime scene than it needed to be … but it's all seemingly gone smoothly at the moment.

"I'd say shorter-term (time for return) rather than longer term, just the way that people are talking.

"I think it's all going to come down to function, and whether I can continue to grip the bat the way I need to, or catch the ball, but from all reports, which is really early – it's only been 24 hours – it's pretty positive, so hopefully I can just knuckle down in my rehab and get it right for the Sixers this year, or whatever (that timeline) might look like.

"Hopefully by Friday we'll know a little bit more about the extent of it, and what it's going to look like moving forward. I'll chat to (the surgeon) Thursday and we'll put a plan together."

Healy has had a torrid run with finger injuries in 2023, having famously played through the Ashes with fractures in her left index and right ring fingers during the northern summer.

The 33-year-old is also a major loss for the Sixers, who have yet to name a replacement player. The two-time winners have lost their opening two matches to the Heat and the Thunder and will miss the national captain's explosiveness at the top of the order and sharp work behind the stumps.

Australia's next assignment is in India towards the end of December, and while she is yet to look that far ahead, Healy is looking to find a silver lining as she awaits more detail on when she will be back on the park.

"I'm really optimistic about it," she said. "I'll take the opportunity to have a rest while I can. It's obviously not ideal and I was really looking forward to the WBBL and contributing quite significantly for the Sixers, but I've been given a little break now and I'll support the girls as best I can and get myself right for the back-end of the season, or what is a big summer ahead."

Weber WBBL|09 Standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	No results N/R	Net Run Rate NRR	Deductions Ded.	Total points PTS
1 Adelaide Strikers Women STR	14	11	3	0	0	1.154	0	22
2 Perth Scorchers Women SCO	14	8	6	0	0	0.784	0	16
3 Brisbane Heat Women HEA	14	8	6	0	0	0.203	0	16
4 Sydney Thunder Women THU	14	7	6	0	1	0.298	0	15
5 Sydney Sixers Women SIX	14	7	7	0	0	-0.253	0	14
6 Hobart Hurricanes Women HUR	14	6	7	0	1	-0.597	0	13
7 Melbourne Stars Women STA	14	6	8	0	0	-0.779	0	12
8 Melbourne Renegades Women REN	14	2	12	0	0	-0.978	0	4

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

N/R: No results

NRR: Net Run Rate

Ded.: Deductions

PTS: Total points

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