Alyssa Healy is hopeful of being fit for Australia's tour of India after surgery for a gory index finger injury suffered when she put her hand between her two dogs as they were fighting.
Healy was rushed to hospital on Saturday night after picking up the bizarre injury to her right index finger thanks to her two Staffordshire bull terriers.
Australia's stand-in captain admitted she had initially feared the worst, but she is now hopeful of returning later in the WBBL for the Sydney Sixers.
That would put her on track for Australia's multi-format tour of India, which is expected to begin with a day-night Test on December 21.
"The positive sign out of it is there was no bone or tendon damage, or a rupture. That's the best news possible," Healy told reporters in a video press conference from her home.
"I think there was an artery involved which probably made it look more like a crime scene than it needed to be. It was quite gory.
"When I pulled my finger out initially, I thought I was in strife. But it's all gone smoothly at the moment.
"I'd say it's shorter term more than long term at the moment, the way people are talking."
Healy will meet surgeons again on Thursday, and expects to have a clearer picture on the injury then.
Australia's captain through the most recent Ashes and series against West Indies, Healy is expected to return to the deputy role if Meg Lanning makes her national comeback in India.
If neither are available, Tahlia McGrath would likely take the reins.
Healy's injury is on the opposite index finger to the one fractured twice in June and July on Australia's tour of England and Ireland.
The wicketkeeper's pain adds to the inglorious list of off-field injuries for cricketers in recent years.
Ex-Sixers teammate Dane Van Niekerk missed part of the 2021-22 WBBL after slicing her finger cutting an avocado.
Glenn Maxwell's hopes of reigniting his Test career in India this year were ended by slipping over and breaking his leg at a party, while England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow suffered a similar injury on the golf course last year.
Healy joked that she should set up a group chat for the group to deal with their issues, but more immediately had to sort problems with her two dogs.
"The good news is we're still friends," she said.
"They're probably a little bit worse for wear than what I was, but we're still friends.
"We all sat on the couch last night together and debriefed the situation and we're all getting along fine."
The Sixers have added former NSW wicketkeeper Hannah Trethewy to their squad for Tuesday's match with Brisbane due to Healy's injury, while teenage keeper Kate Pelle also remains with the group.
