New Delhi: Australia skipper Alyssa Healy reflected on Women’s World Cup semi-final loss to India, admitting, “we did that to ourselves a little bit” after her team failed to defend a 338-run target in Navi Mumbai.
“I mean, good contest in the end,” she said after India pulled off the highest run chase in women’s ODI history, knocking out the defending champions to book a spot in the final against South Africa on Sunday. “Probably reflecting on that, we did that to ourselves a little bit. It’s probably the first time that I’ve felt like we’ve done that. So, we probably didn’t finish off with the bat, didn’t bowl that great and dropped all our chances in the field, and still hung in there until the second last over. So, I mean, we can take something out of that, but ultimately, outdone in the end.”
Australia posted a massive total of 338
At 220 for 2 in the 34th over, Australia seemed on course for a total well beyond 350, but a sudden collapse saw them bowled out for 338 in 49.5 overs. In the field, they missed three catches, two of which were off Jemimah Rodrigues, who went on to score an unbeaten 127 from 134 deliveries.
“I think we created enough [chances]. We created pressure,” Healy said. “We created opportunities. We just weren’t able to capitalise. And, you know, I’m at fault for that as well, and I think that’s something that Australia really prides themselves on.”
“We kind of let ourselves down in that regard today. So that’s probably why it’s disappointing. It felt a little bit similar this time last year, sort of going out playing, you know, not the way that we wanted to play,” she said, as she compared the defeat to Australia’s 2024 T20 World Cup semifinal loss to South Africa. “So we’ll learn from that. We’ll grow. And I think our one-day cricket will hopefully improve since.”
Healy expressed pride in Australia’s overall campaign
Despite the setback in the semi-final clash, she expressed pride in Australia’s overall campaign. “I think we’ve played some unbelievable cricket,” she said. “And, you know, ultimately, like we’ve been saying the whole time, the semi-finals is a knockout game. If you don’t quite turn up on that evening, you know, anyone’s going to get you.
“So there was so much to be proud of this World Cup. I’m really proud of our group and every single player’s contribution. I think somebody came in every game and got a job done for us. So I think that’s really cool. Yeah, that’s probably why it stings a little bit more having this conversation with you right now, knowing that we are playing really good cricket, but we just weren’t able to get over that hurdle.”
Healy showered praise on the emerging group of Australian players
Healy showered praise on the emerging group of Australian players, with special mention of Phoebe Litchfield, who played an impressive 119 runs knock in the semifinal.
“When you’ve seen players my age walk away from the game, it’s kind of a weird experience to stand there and watch the next generation go about it,” she said. “I thought Phoebe was sensational today, set us off really nicely at the top and then went on to make a hundred, which I thought was really crucial. Kudos to her. It’s been fun to watch her unfold, and I think the next four years leading into the next ODI World Cup are going to be really exciting to watch.”
“The other change in batting, I think, is around that No.6, No.7 position. I think Ash Gardner has completely owned that role this World Cup.”
Healy also announced that this would be her last ODI World Cup
The 35-year-old further announced that this would be her last ODI World Cup, “I won’t be there now. There you go,” she said. “That’s the beauty of this next cycle – we’re going to see that unfold. Obviously, there’s a T20 World Cup in the middle of next year, which is really exciting for our group. But I think our one-day cricket is probably going to shift a little bit again.
“We’ll learn from what we did wrong tonight. We’ll grow, we’ll get better. And the opportunity for some young players to get greater opportunities in this side is a really exciting thing for Australian cricket.”