Ashes whitewash hits like a World Cup win: Healy

Women's Ashes Media Opportunity
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 29: Alyssa Healy of Australia speaks to the media during a Women's Ashes media opportunity at Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 29, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Australia captain Alyssa Healy says an Ashes whitewash of England would be “pretty high up” among her long list of cricket achievements.

Australia claimed the first six white-ball matches and has the opportunity to pick up a historic clean sweep with a win in Thursday’s stand-alone Test match.

Healy, who declared herself fit for selection on Wednesday after battling a foot injury, says a 16-0 demolition of England would rival the Aussie women’s array of World Cup triumphs.

“I think so, it’s something I’ve never achieved before, I feel like I have been lucky enough to achieve quite a lot in the game,” she said.

Women's Ashes Media Opportunity
Alyssa Healy would rank an Ashes clean sweep among her long list of World Cup wins. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

“That would definitely be pretty high up there, we know how high-quality that side is sitting across from us.

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“To have gone out and played the way we have, we speak about playing that way, but to actually execute it, do it well and do it against a really good side has been a really cool experience for us.

“16-nil would be nice and it would rank pretty highly but we know we’ve still got to play some good cricket to do that.”

Healy told media on Wednesday she was “good to go” after missing the three Twenty20 matches.

Ashleigh Gardner, who struck a match-winning century in Hobart’s One-Day International, is also expected to make her return from a calf complaint.

Australia Women's Ashes Training Session
Healy was put through a gruelling net session on Tuesday to prove her fitness. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

While she believes the English will be dangerous with a point to prove, Healy will encourage her side to enjoy the occasion of a day-night Ashes Test at the MCG.

“100 per cent England have a point to prove, nothing to lose to a certain extent, which makes them really dangerous and we know what a good side they are,” she said.

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“We’ve managed to keep them quite quiet throughout this series and there’s another job to do in this four-day game to keep them quiet and hopefully get a result to go our way.

“We ideally want that 16-nil, it’s a real tick of the box for us so the girls are working really hard to make that happen but most importantly enjoy this experience as well.

“It’s not every day you get to run out here in Ashes series being 12-nil up, so I think it’s an opportunity for us to enjoy it.”