‘Feisty and fiery’: Healy sends ominous pre-Ashes warning

Alyssa Healy has hit enough balls in Australia, declaring she's ready for a "feisty and fiery" Ashes series in England.

The squad will fly out on Saturday after an extensive camp in Brisbane which has already included one warm-up match against Australia A, and another still to play on Wednesday.

Wicketkeeper/batter Healy has continued her good form at the top of the order from last season and can't wait for the biannual series to commence on July 2 at Grace Road, Leicester.

"It's been a busy month or so build up... we're ready to get on the plane and I know I'm ready to go and get amongst it," she told reporters.

"It's always a highlight of your career (playing in an Ashes series); it's always feisty and fiery and good fun to be a part of."

Healy dominated the short form of the game with the bat last year, being named player of the T20 World Cup and taking home the Belinda Clark Award at the Australian Cricket Awards.

If Sunday’s hit-out against Australia A is anything to judge by, this explosive form should continue during the Ashes.

Opening the batting, Healy found the boundary nine times in her 55-ball 49, impressing fellow top-order batter and Australia vice-captain Rachael Haynes. 

"(Healy) hasn't missed a beat, that's for sure. She batted beautifully early on against the new ball," Haynes said after Australia’s 103-run win.

Healy, while acknowledging there are plenty of teammates capable of replacing her at the top of the order, conceded it isn’t a position she’s keen to vacate anytime soon. 

"Six of the top eight batters open the batting for their WBBL side or their state side,” Healy said. 

"We've got depth there and opportunity to shuffle it around, but hopefully I've got my hands firmly clasped on a top order spot and would love to stay there as long as possible."

In an ominous warning to her English rivals, Healy declared that despite all her accolades and awards, she still wasn’t completely satisfied with her game last season.

"I'd like to think I'm still improving as a cricketer and have a lot to learn."

"I’ve identified a few key things that I could’ve done better last year and I’ve been working on them over the last few months and hopefully we’ll see them come to fruition in the Ashes.”

CommBank Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

June 26: England Academy v Australia, Loughborough

June 28:  England Academy v Australia, Loughborough

July 2: First ODI, Grace Road, Leicester

July 4: Second ODI, Grace Road, Leicester

July 7:  Third ODI, St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury

July 11-13: England Academy v Australia, Marlborough College, Swindon

July 18-21: Only Test, The County Ground, Taunton

July 26: First T20, County Ground, Chelmsford

July 28: Second T20, The County Ground, Hove

July 31: Third T20, Bristol County Ground, Bristol

A Test victory is worth four points (two each for a draw), two points are awarded for ODI and T20 wins