Cricket superstar Alyssa Healy is enjoying life after retirement as a Fox Sports host, Adam Lucius discovers.
In what other job do you get a front row seat to critique your partner’s work to an audience in the millions, and then catch up with him for dinner when the day is over?
There’s no going easy on husband Mitch (centre) in Alyssa’s Fox Sports role
It’s a question that brings a laugh from Alyssa Healy as we sit in the stands of quaint North Sydney Oval, flanked by a Fox Sports stylist and publicist, as the picturesque ground receives a makeover from winter to summer sport.
It could be a metaphor for the change going on in her own life.
The former Australia women’s cricket captain has been hot property these past months, in demand by a media intrigued by her transition from cricketing superstar to a member of Fox Cricket’s full-time commentary team.
Much of the interest centres on the dynamic between Alyssa and husband Mitchell – as in Starc, Australia’s premier fast bowler – and how they will zig-zag between their husband-wife and commentator-player roles.
It must be tricky, right, especially when you’re armed with inside knowledge of the workings of the country’s highest profile sporting team?
“I guess when you put it like that, it certainly looks a lot different to most couple’s workdays,” Alyssa says after patiently and politely negotiating our 45-minute photo shoot.
“We’ve talked about how it’s a bit weird we’re in these positions, but balance is key when I’m in the commentary box.
“Things said at home are generally in the vault, but if something crops up in a game and there’s a capacity to share it and use it to the team’s advantage, then I will use it.
“But if I start to realise I’m going to get in trouble releasing said information, I will start to work backwards from there.
“But it’s fine. I’m yet to over-step the mark, I hope!”
Even if that means calling out hubby – or his teammates – when things have gone astray out in the middle. As it did when Bangladesh stunned the cricketing world by beating the Aussie men in the Darwin Test in August.
“He’s used to me giving him more stick than everybody else, and he’s had plenty of chances to get one back as well,” Alyssa insists.
“We have the same discussions at home, so it’s fine. It’ll be like me telling him to put his plate away.”
It’s a perspective that only someone with Alyssa’s extensive CV – 16 years at international level, 299 matches, eight World Cup wins, Ashes victories, Commonwealth Games gold and a swag of individual awards – can give.
“I think you can be harsh but fair at the same time, and having an understanding of the modern game and the pressures that some of these players are under I think helps,” she continues.
“And probably the relationships that I’ve had with a lot of these guys for over 15 years, with Mitch being in the side, allows a clearer judgement.
“I think there’s always a little bit of truth to everything that’s said in commentary, as tough as it might feel as a player at times.
“I call it as I see it and try to explain to everyone at home why certain decisions are being made.”
Former Australia skipper Ian Chappell said he knew it was time to retire when he found himself clock-watching at the SCG after only a few minutes of play in a Sheffield Shield match.
Alyssa’s retirement call came after a similar epiphany, although she’s keeping the exact moment to herself.
After coming to prominence at 16 as the first female to play in the NSW Combined Associated Schools competition for Barker College’s First XI, the champion keeper-batter’s mindset changed following 20 years in the national and international spotlight.
“There was a distinct moment in the back end of last year where I just flipped a switch a little bit,” she reveals.
“It was probably the first time that I wasn’t really enjoying turning up every day.
“I was still trying to play better and be better and win games, but I just wasn’t enjoying it as much.
“To have that mental clarity that I knew it was time actually really helped in my final decision.
“Retirement was not hard for me. I was ready to move on and do something else, which was cool.”
Alyssa’s departure from international cricket has allowed her to take a deep breath and sit back and fully appreciate the beauty and tranquillity Australian cricket’s ‘royal couple’ enjoy at their 1.8-hectare Terrey Hills estate known as Charlotte Park.
While both their commitments will be particularly heavy over the next 12 months – the Australia’s men team is embarking on a monster engagement of Test matches – the semi-rural setting is the calm they were unknowingly chasing following a move from North Curl Curl.
“We loved Curly and we loved the beach lifestyle, but we ended up just craving a little bit more space,” she explains.
“It’s also enabled us our own little bit of privacy, which we love, and have more space for Mitch to sit on the lawnmower and for the dogs to run around.
“To have that and still be 40 minutes from everywhere you need to be in Sydney is pretty fortunate.
“Terrey Hills is a great little community and it’s been a really enjoyable change that we probably didn’t know we needed, but did.”
As to what the future holds, the couple has no set plan.
Starc’s magnificent career is nearing the end, but he is yet to declare when the full stop will be applied.
Travel (especially to non-cricket countries), working on their golf games and starting a family are all on the cards.
But don’t bother trying to nail Alyssa down to a firm agenda.
“I always push back a little bit when there’s a routine and structure and I’m told what to do. I am a bit of a rebel like that!” she laughs.
“I feel like retirement’s just really relaxed me as a human being.
“I’ve been able to pick and choose what I want to do and don’t want to do.
“The best way to describe it is I feel like I finished school, and I’ve got my life back and I’m experiencing a lot of new things for the first time, and things that I haven’t done for over 15 years.
“The opportunity to travel and work on the same game that Mitch is playing in has made this period really enjoyable as well.
“As for what happens down the track, that will all play itself out.”
The one thing the 36-year-old does know for sure is she doesn’t want to be pigeon-holed as a cricket-only commentator.
“I’m a sports fanatic. I love watching everything,” she reveals.
“I grew up with NRL in the household and follow AFL religiously now, and also love my American sports.
“Obviously my expertise is cricket, but if there’s an opportunity to cross codes, I’ll jump at it.”
And, without any doubt at all, be a raging success.
A magnificent career
Either with bat in hand and or behind the stumps with the wicket-keeping gloves on, Alyssa Healy’s timing was almost always perfect. Her move into full-time commentary at Fox Sports has that same sense of rhythm.
Alyssa has signed up ahead of a massive year of cricket for our men’s and women’s teams in all formats of the game.
The men are in South Africa in October for the first Test series since the infamous Sandpaper-gate series of 2018, which saw Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft suspended for their roles in arguably Australia’s darkest sporting moment.
The Aussies’ return will be heated, hostile and compulsory viewing.
“I’m just like a fan. I get really excited about big series like these. Yes, the crowd will no doubt give it to our boys but it’s going to be so much fun to watch,” says Alyssa, who will form part of the expert, Sydney-based, studio panel.
Attention will then turn to New Zealand and the inaugural four-Test series between the countries in Australia, before the summer is rounded out by a gruelling five-Test tour of India.
The women’s season starts with three one-day internationals and three T20s against Bangladesh in October, followed by a five-game T20 series against England.
The female Kiwis will be in Australia for T20 and ODI series in late February/early March, 2027, before the spotlight returns to the men’s game and the 150th anniversary Test match between the old enemy, Australia and England, at the MCG in March.
The WBBL and BBL will act as a constant backdrop to the international program, with the former Sixers vice-captain particularly keen to see how her old team fares.
“You can see why they are calling it cricket’s summer of the century,” Alyssa smiles.
“It’s exciting times for the players, but also cool for us to call games against different oppositions in different conditions.
“I feel really lucky to be able to learn a lot from the people I’m working alongside, as well as benefitting from the many women who pioneered that space and created a lot of opportunities for people like me.”
Watch Alyssa Healy throughout the summer on Fox Cricket, available on Kayo SPORTS.