Star Australian women’s player Alyssa Healy has recently undergone finger surgery after suffering a dog bite during an attempt to intervene in a scuffle between her dogs.
Describing her injury as resembling “a crime scene,” Healy explained that the operation successfully repaired a severed artery.
The incident occurred during a playful interaction between the two puppies she shares with her husband, Australian paceman Mitchell Starc, which escalated beyond their usual rough play. Healy unfortunately found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“When I pulled my finger out initially, I thought I was in strife,” she admitted. “I think there was an artery involved which probably made it look more like a crime scene than it needed to be. It was quite gory.”
Healy is set to consult with surgeons again on Thursday to get a clearer understanding of her ‘dog bite’ injury. If regular captain Meg Lanning returns, Healy is expected to resume her role as deputy. Otherwise, Tahlia McGrath might take the reins.
This latest injury is on the opposite index finger from the one Healy fractured twice during Australia’s tour of England and Ireland in June and July.
A Trend of Off-Field Cricketing Mishaps
Healy’s incident adds to a series of off-field injuries experienced by cricketers in recent years. For instance, Dane Van Niekerk missed part of the 2021-22 WBBL after cutting her finger while preparing an avocado. Similarly, Glenn Maxwell’s plans for reviving his Test career in India were dashed when he broke his leg at a party. Even England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow suffered a similar fate with a golf-related injury last year.
Healy humorously suggested creating a group chat for cricketers dealing with off-field mishaps. Meanwhile, she’s focused on resolving matters with her dogs.
“The good news is we’re still friends,” she quipped. “They’re probably a little bit worse for wear than what I was, but we’re still friends. We all sat on the couch last night together and debriefed the situation and we’re all getting along fine.”
Considering Healy’s absence, the Sixers are contemplating finding a replacement player, with young wicketkeeper Kate Pelle taking up the gloves in their recent match against the Sydney Thunder.
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