Healy dismisses pressure talks, pleased to get among the runs

It was talked about when India played host to the men’s World Cup in 2011, it was in vogue when the men’s World Cup was in England last year and it’s in business yet again as Australia hosts the Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 – the pressure of playing a ‘home’ World Cup. That question was yet again asked to Alyssa Healy, who said that Australia weren’t overawed by the occasion.



“(There was) no real extra pressure or expectation,” said Healy after the 17-run loss to India.



“There were a few nerves out there today, and you'd be silly if you weren't nervous, I think, walking out and there's 14,000 people, mainly cheering for India, but cheering for Australia, as well. It was a really special moment for everyone, and yeah, there were nerves, but it was also a level of excitement from the group that this was all happening and it was finally here and we were playing.”



The Sydney Showground, where the opening match of the tournament was held, was packed to a record crowd of over 13000. It seemed as if India had more support, given the number of blue-clad people in the crowd. Add to it the slowish track on show and the odds suddenly seemed to be stacked against the hosts. Moreover, Australia had hardly played much cricket at the venue – they had organised a warm-up match against Cricket Australia XI to get used to the conditions there.



Did the lack of game-time at the Sydney Showground have a role to play?



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“Look, I think we had plenty of information on what the wicket was going to do. The Thunder play here quite regularly,” said the wicket-keeper batter. “We played a practice game leading into the tri-series here. We knew what it was going to do. We knew how it was going to play, and I just think we didn't play it that smart tonight.”



Poonam Yadav’s spell of 4-0-19-4 turned the game around, as the host batters were puzzled by her googlies. While Healy departed in a bid to smash one to the on side, popping a return catch to Yadav, Ellyse Perry, Rachael Haynes and Jess Jonassen all fell after failing to pick the wrong ‘un.



“I think we sort of potentially went out there thinking it was a really flat wicket and played some shots that we probably shouldn't have,” added Healy, who scored a half century. “I think most of the wickets that fell today were batters playing across the line in both innings. For us we'll probably just have a look at that and potentially say we didn't adapt to conditions as well as what we had hoped.”

Healy doing that thing where she trolls everyone by not making a run before a WC and then piles on runs when it starts (even though she's out now). #T20WorldCup

— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) February 21, 2020

Healy was coming off a poor run of form, where she had eight single digit scores in the last nine matches she had played across formats. But at the big stage in front of a home crowd egging her, she belted her way to a 34-ball fifty.



“Oh, it'll probably give me a little extra confidence, but I've said all along I felt like I've been hitting the ball all right, just finding ways to get out, so tonight was obviously pleasing to be able to put some runs out there,” she said.



“Obviously would have loved to win the match for my side, but I guess I can take some confidence out of being able to build a little block of runs for myself. But yeah, look, obviously disappointed not to be able to be there, not out at the end and get the team over the line.”