Beth Mooney has embraced her role as Australia’s primary wicketkeeper-batter during Alyssa Healy’s final international assignment, balancing the responsibility of the gloves with the significance of her captain’s farewell. Healy will retire from all formats following the ongoing home multi-format series against India, which runs from February 15 to March 9, 2026, with the pink-ball Test at the W.A.C.A. in Perth set to mark her final appearance.
Australia currently lead the multi-format contest 8-4. India claimed the T20I leg 2-1 — winning the rain-affected opener by 21 runs via DLS, losing the second by 19 runs, and securing the third by 17 runs — but were subsequently swept 3-0 in the ODI series, suffering defeats by 6 wickets, 5 wickets, and 185 runs. A victory in the Test, which carries four points, would draw the series level for the visitors.
At 32, Mooney has welcomed the opportunity to take on full-time wicketkeeping duties, transitioning from a backup role she has held for much of the past decade. Throughout this series — across both T20Is and ODIs — she has worn the gloves, building on her stint at the MCG during last summer’s Ashes when she stepped in for an injured Healy. “It’s been a lot of fun, I’ve really enjoyed it, and the consistency of doing it a little bit more frequently,” Mooney said at Perth Airport on Monday. Now preparing at her adopted home venue, she is keen to experience the pace and bounce of the WACA, particularly under pink-ball conditions.
The shift has prompted discussion, given that Healy has been Australia’s first-choice wicketkeeper since 2014. However, selector Shawn Flegler backed the decision during the first ODI in Brisbane, pointing to Mooney’s performances over the last 12-18 months.
Adapting to a New Workload
Taking on the gloves full-time brings additional physical demands, and Mooney admitted adjustments will be necessary in her preparation and recovery routines.
“Moving forward, I’m really excited to take on that (full-time) role, and I’ll probably have to manage my body a little differently to what I did when running around the field,” she noted.
Australia touched down in Perth on Monday and have a rest day before resuming preparations for the Test on the evening of March 4.
Mooney dismissed concerns about the quick turnaround from ODIs to a Test match, noting it is a familiar challenge in multi-format contests.
“We’re used to this tight schedule; we’ve done it in the past few multi-format series,” she said. “(Going from) 50-over (cricket) into a Test match is pretty good. I’m looking forward to the pace and bounce of the WACA. I think that’ll be a lot of fun and a really good challenge. The conditions at the W.A.C.A. will suit us really nicely. We’ve got the pace and bounce of Darcie Brown, maybe a debutant in Lucy Hamilton as well, and a couple of new faces too.”
As Healy prepares to conclude her career, Mooney’s assumption of wicketkeeping duties signals a smooth transition, blending tribute with forward planning in Australia’s women’s side.
