Sydney Sixers coach Ben Sawyer has slammed criticism of Alyssa Healy’s form during the recent series against India and blamed her below-par displays on "ridiculous” wickets.

Healy went into this year’s WBBL after having made just four runs in the last two ODIs, a return that prompted an avalanche of criticism, with questions raised over whether the 31-year-old’s best years were behind her.

Sawyer, who works with the Australian women’s team as the fast-bowling coach, said he had no concerns around Healy’s confidence coming into the domestic season but admitted the batter had expressed frustrations over her recent scores.

“She’s a bit frustrated because she is hitting the ball really well at the moment and maybe just wasn’t quite getting it right in the middle,” he said. “I think it just came down to a couple of unlucky instances out in the middle.”

In the second T20 of the series, Healy came undone by an insane delivery from Indian quick Shikya Pandey. The ball, which originally looked miles outside off stump, swung in to clip the top of the pegs in a delivery which stunned the commentators.

On another occasion, she was run-out at the non-striker’s end after another unbelievable ball from India.

“We got through five games of white ball cricket and just there are two innings that were ridiculous ways to get out. The other three she played attackingly. So I wasn’t worried,” he’s said. Anyone’s saying she’s struggling or writing her off - I think that’s pretty silly.”

Healy reminded her critics what she is capable of in the Sixers’ season opener, hitting a half-century in just 24 balls, but made just three last week against the Hurricanes. On Friday against the Stars, Healy made 14 runs as the Stars claimed their first victory of the season.