By Zainab Shafiq 
Alyssa Healy, the Sydney Sixers’ star player, faces an uncertain season ahead after undergoing surgery on her hand due to an unexpected domestic mishap. This setback forced her to withdraw from the highly anticipated Sydney Smash match and has raised concerns about her upcoming Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) campaign, both for the Sixers and the Australian cricket team.
The Sydney Sixers have issued an official statement but have provided few details about the accident and the severity of Healy’s injury. Ellyse Perry, the Sixers’ captain, referred to the incident as a “pretty nasty accident” during the coin toss before the Smash match. The club expects to have a clearer picture of the situation within the next 48 hours.
With Alyssa Healy sidelined, the responsibility of wicketkeeping is likely to fall on young talent Kate Pelle, who made her WBBL debut just last Thursday against the Melbourne Stars. Unfortunately, the Sixers were hit with a double blow as Healy’s injury coincided with the absence of middle-order batter Mathilda Carmichael, who suffered a back strain during the club’s Saturday training session.
To address their depleted squad, the Big Bash has granted approval for the inclusion of 18-year-old Frankie Nicklin as the Sydney Sixers’ 13th player in the upcoming clash against the Thunder. However, Nicklin’s role will be limited to serving as an emergency substitute fielder.
The Sixers’ next fixture is against the Brisbane Heat at North Sydney Oval on Tuesday evening. At this point, the club has chosen not to replace Healy on their roster, expressing hope for her swift recovery and return to the field. The absence of key players poses a challenge for the Sixers, but they remain optimistic about the season ahead.
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