"I will remember the passion she brought to the game," Alyssa Healy on retiring Sarah Aley

Sarah Aley, the right-arm seam bowler, who announced her retirement from the Women’s National Cricket League earlier this year, drew curtains on her cricketing career after Sydney Sixers’ five-wicket win over Melbourne Stars in the sixth season of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). She announced her retirement via an Instagram post on Monday (November 23). She was signed up by Sixers ahead of the season to double up as a player cum assistant coach.



“She’s done fine and just keeps coming back and back. I think that’s her last game,” said Alyssa Healy after the match on Sunday (November 22), effusing praise on the New South Wales bowler.



“This is the last year of her contract but she’s really busy working full time outside of cricket and taking up some coaching roles. So I think that’s the last time we’ll see her out here, which is such a shame considering that she had more energy than 17-18 year olds out there in the field.”



ALSO READ: We back our middle-order to do the job in knockouts: Scorchers skipper Sophie Devine

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sarah Aley (@sarah_aley03)

After Aley’s announcement earlier this year, post which Healy paid tribute to her mate, there was uncertainty around whether the seamer will play in the WBBL. However, she returned to play her sixth successive season for Sixers, apart from her dual role with the side.



“She’s been such a good mate of mine and such a good team-mate to have alongside you and she’s done some amazing things for the Sixers.”



Aley didn’t have favourable returns with the ball, finishing with none for 25 in her two overs. But she made her presence felt on the field, when she timed her jump at the mid-wicket boundary and took a catch on the second attempt to end Natalie Sciver’s stay in the middle.

That was smoked by Nat Sciver and somehow Sarah Aley sticks the catch on the rope! 😮 #WBBL06 pic.twitter.com/ndxMrTzNoZ

— Rebel Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 22, 2020

“We all had a giggle and were like, you’re gonna go out in style as per usual,” said Healy about Aley’s effort.



“I thought she was gonna end up going out there and hitting the winning runs as well but she’s just one of those true champions of the game.”



“I will remember the passion she brought to the game. It will be a sad loss,” she concluded.