Women’s World Cup 2025: Australia captain Alyssa Healy ruled out of England match

England’s penultimate group stage match was a tantalizing prospect indeed. It is the first time they have faced Australia since the ill-fated Ashes match at the start of the year – a series in which England did not score a point.

Both teams have not lost in the tournament so far.

Now, one of them is without their leader.

Healy has a history against England in World Cup finals, most famously her brutal 170 to take the game away from England in the final of the previous edition in Christchurch in 2022. So her loss is a huge blow to the defending champions.

However, they have the most strength in depth in the women’s game.

Healy’s big shoes to fill for youngster Voll, who is yet to feature in the tournament, but stepped up with confidence when Healy suffered a similar injury during the Ashes and was ruled out of T20 matches. Meanwhile, McGrath has plenty of experience leading the team in her absence.

But against a team of this caliber, England have to make the most of what they can. They have looked calmer and more stable under Charlotte Edwards, but it’s time to show whether or not Ash’s wounds have healed.