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Alyssa Healy explains 'funky' stumping

Alyssa Healy's quick thinking behind the stumps was one of the highlights in the Southern Stars loss to England

Alyssa Healy has been working hard on her glovework but Sunday's remarkable stumping isn't the sort of thing that crops up at training.

Healy has hit serious form with bat and gloves in the women's Ashes, having topped the run-scoring list for the ODI section of the series after knocks of 18, 56 and 71.

The 27-year-old also contributed fodder for the series highlight reel during England's innings on Sunday, when the visitors recorded a 20-run win in Coffs Harbour.

Healy, up to the stumps while keeping to spearhead Megan Schutt, held a sharp catch but even more impressive was her dismissal of Tammy Beaumont.

Beaumont, the player of the tournament during England's World Cup success earlier this year, was well set on 74 when she misread a full delivery from Schutt.

The ball spat out to the leg side.

Healy creates wicket out of thin air

The quick-thinking keeper raced after the ball then slapped it onto the stumps, timing it all to perfection so the bails were dislodged as Beaumont momentarily stumbled out of her crease.

"You try some funky stuff and every now and then end up looking like an idiot, so it was nice for it come off for a change," Healy told AAP.

"Definitely never done it in training. It was a reaction, bit of a reflex.

"Lucky it came off today and I didn't look like a fool."

The third umpire confirmed Healy had conjured a breakthrough out of nowhere, with the only debate being whether it was stumped or run out in the scorebook.

Healy hits career-best 71

Healy has recently worked on mastering some different strokes with the bat, while she has been fine-tuning her glovework under the guidance of Australia assistant coach Tim Coyle.

"He's a fantastic fielding and wicketkeeping coach. It's great work with him every day and improve all areas of that side of my game," she said of Coyle, who mentored Tasmania's men to their first ever Sheffield Shield title in 2007.

"Really happy with how the keeping is going.

"I've worked really hard on my batting, on expanding my game and playing a little bit more 360 degrees.

"There's always areas to improve and no doubt the next couple of weeks I'll get a chance to do that."

Australia hold a 4-2 points lead in the women's Ashes. Victory in next week's one-off Test will ensure they retain the urn.

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes

Australia lead England 4-2

Australia squad (ODI and Test): Rachael Haynes (C), Alex Blackwell (VC), Kristen Beams, Nicole Bolton, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa (Test only), Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington.

England squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danielle Wyatt.

Schedule


First ODI Australia won by two wickets

Second ODI Australia won by 75 runs (DLS method)

Third ODI England won by 20 runs (DLS method)

Day-Night Test North Sydney Oval, November 9-12

First T20 North Sydney Oval, November 17

North Sydney Charity Partner: McGrath Foundation

Second T20 Manuka Oval, November 19

Third T20 Manuka Oval, November 21

Canberra Charity Partner: Lord's Taverners ACT