Australia Women’s star wicketkeeper batswoman Alyssa Healy on Sunday (September 27) broke MS Dhoni’s record for most dismissals in the T20Is and became the most successful wicket-keeper in the shorter format of the game in Brisbane.
Healy overtook the legendary cricketer Dhoni who finished his career with 91 scalps from 98 T20Is and achieved the record of most wicket-keeping dismissals in the format with 92 dismissals in 114 T20Is.
The 30-year-old Healy achieved this feat during the second T20I against New Zealand Women at Brisbane – where she involved in a couple of dismissals as she first stumped a well-set Amy Satterthwaite for 30 to equal that record, as well as, became the second wicketkeeper to reach 50 stumpings in T20Is.
Then, Lauren Down became Healy's 92nd victim behind the stumps as she was caught off the bowling of Georgia Wareham to broke Dhoni’s record in terms of wicket-keeping in the shorter format.
The right-hander also scored a 17-ball 33 knock to help Australia to beat New Zealand Women comprehensively by 8 wickets on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
After her record-breaking show in Brisbane, Healy said achieving the record of most wicket-keeping dismissals is a very nice individual accolade but credited the bowlers for the opportunities.
Healy said after the match: “It's obviously a very nice individual accolade but it reflects better on our bowling attack than myself. It just shows the strength of the bowling attack we've had throughout my career that they are giving these opportunities. Makes me think about all the ones I've missed but at the same it is nice, but it's more credit to the bowlers.”
She further explained, “There's a lot of stuff you do as a wicketkeeper, so for me, I'm always really content when I come off the field and I've had a good day behind the stumps. Didn't feel like I had a great day today so it's sort of a weird feeling. I love wicket-keeping, have done it my whole life - much as I wanted to be a bowler, I love my 'keeping - so if I come off the ground and I've done my job for the bowlers and team, more often than not I'm pretty happy.”
Healy concluded, “Being a wicketkeeper you've sometimes got to create opportunities for your side. It's not something I pride myself on or anything like, it's just how I can swing the momentum back in our favor, whether that's driving our fielding standards or taking a half chance that could change the game.”
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
