Alyssa Healy could face an extended period on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on her hand following a domestic accident at home.

The nature of the injury and how it happened has not been confirmed but Sydney Sixers announced on Sunday afternoon that Healy suffered a hand injury at home on Saturday night and was ruled out of the match against Sydney Thunder.

Healy posted a photo of herself on Instagram with her left hand heavily bandaged and in a splint. There is no timeframe for her recovery as yet. Australia’s tour of India is less than two months away and Sixers still have 13 WBBL matches, plus finals if they qualify, before then.

“It was a very freak accident, I guess,” Ellyse Perry, Sixers’ captain, said after the defeat to Thunder. “I’m not across what it was. It was something at home. We’re just sending lots of thoughts and best wishes to her, because she’s going to have a recovery period. It would have been really awful situation.

“I had a few chats with Midge last night. A couple of the girls have been in touch with her. She’s had a big day and she’s recovering. She certainly knows that the whole group’s thoughts are with her. We’ll hopefully get to see her in the next little bit, and give her a big hug.”

Speaking on Channel Seven, Lisa Sthalekar said Healy had been in touch. “I have heard from her, she’s given me the thumbs up, although a little bit bandaged,” she said.

Perry added that Healy’s injury was a blow to the wider competition as well as Sixers.

“It’s a huge blow,” she said. “It’s not just a blow for us, it’s a blow for the tournament, because she’s one of the most exciting and mercurial players in the world.

“It’s been wonderful to have her playing in the competition over the last nine years. Whenever a player like that’s missing for a period of time, it’s going to be a blow.

“For our group, she’s a huge presence. She’s of fun, she’s a big character, and the lifeblood of the team. For however long we miss her for, it’s going to be a bummer. We’re just thinking of her and hope she gets better soon.”

A Sixers statement said: “No further details of the accident or injury are clear at this time, with further details to be communicated in due course. She has not been replaced on the Sixers’ roster.”

Healy, Australia’s vice-captain who has led the team for their last three international series in the absence of Meg Lanning, has already suffered two broken fingers this year while playing during the Ashes series and missed the Hundred in England as a result.

Healy’s absence meant Sixers need a new wicketkeeper with 17-year-old Kate Pelle taking the role after she kept for Australia at the Under-19 T20 World Cup earlier this year.