Alyssa Healy will lead a new era of the Australian women's cricket team after becoming Meg Lanning's permanent successor as captain in all three formats.

Alyssa Healy wants to create a “new legacy” for Australia’s winning women’s cricket team after officially replacing Meg Lanning as captain in all three formats.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Healy represented Lanning as captain for extended periods over the last two years, including at this year's Ashes. Now the 33-year-old, who was always expected to earn the promotion, will take on the role full-time after Lanning unexpectedly stepped down from the national team last month.

Likewise, Tahlia McGrath was appointed as Healy's deputy. McGrath had recently led the Adelaide Strikers to back-to-back WBBL titles and has also captained Australia on a number of recent occasions.

“I am honored to take on the role of captain and grateful for the opportunity to lead our team,” said Healy. “I have really enjoyed the support of the players over the last few months and their encouragement to continue to be who I am and lead the group as I normally would from within.”

"My approach will remain the same, but I will put my own stamp on the role and be sure to do my best so that this group can maintain the success we have had."

Healy, a match-winner in her 255-match career, will lead Australia's attempts to keep international cricket's pursuers at bay, which includes defending the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh next September.

“The legacy that Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes had over a really long period of time and the success that they had was outstanding and I was a part of that, which is really cool. But it feels like we are a bit new. “We are a new team, we have talent that is coming forward. We have older players coming in and out and it was kind of an opportunity to reset and refresh.”

Healy's reign will begin in earnest later this month after she declared herself a near-certain starter for the Test against India on December 21 at the famous Wankhede Stadium. She missed the entire WBBL after seriously injuring her finger while trying to break up a fight between her two dogs, but has returned to training.