Alyssa Healy to lead UP Warriorz in WPL

The Australia opener becomes the latest captain confirmed for the five-team competition which gets underway on March 4

Nik Anand | 22/02/2023 at 12:45

UP Warriorz have announced Australian opener Alyssa Healy as their captain for the inaugural Women's Premier League.

Healy was signed for 70 lakh (£70,000) in the auction.

It means leading signing Deepti Sharma, acquired for 2.6 crore, will not lead her hometown side.

"The WPL is a tournament we have all been keenly waiting on, and the UP Warriorz have a fantastic squad, waiting to make a splash once things get going," said Healy, who is closing in on 250 Australia appearances.

"We have a good mix of experience and youth along with the ability and look forward to putting on a show for our fans. We are here to win and be ruthless in our brand of cricket."

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Healy also has captaincy experience in the WBBL (Matt King/Getty Images)

Across an international career lasting a dozen years, the 32-year-old has only led her country on four occasions - all coming during the recent T20I series against India while Meg Lanning took a break from cricket.

She has also captained Sydney Sixers on eight occasions in the WBBL in the absence of Ellyse Perry.

Healy is one six overseas players in the UP Warriorz squad, alongside fellow Australians Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris, England duo Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell and South Africa's Shabnim Ismail.

Warriorz begin their WPL campaign on March 5 against Gujrat Giants in Mumbai.