Amanda-Jade Wellington's heart treatment leads to hat-trick heroics in 2026

Australian spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington stunned with a hat-trick just months after heart surgery to fix a racing heartbeat condition.

Lifelong heart condition revealed Despite her cheerful demeanor, Wellington recently disclosed suffering from SVT, or supraventricular tachycardia, a lifelong heart condition where electrical faults trigger sudden rapid heartbeats. The disorder stems from abnormal signals disrupting normal heartbeat rhythm. Treatment typically involves an ablation procedure, where a thin tube is threaded through a vein—often in the groin—into the heart to create tiny scars using extreme cold or heat. These scars block faulty electrical pathways, restoring a steady heartbeat. Barely three months after undergoing this intervention, the Hampshire all-rounder delivered a match-winning performance with a hat-trick and five wickets in a Vitality Blast clash against Essex at Chelmsford on Sunday. ## Rapid return to action pays off Wellington signed with Hampshire in December of the previous year and announced her ablation procedure in March. By early April, she was already training in Southampton’s cold weather to prepare for the domestic One Day Cup opener. Her early performances have been impressive, with 11 wickets from eight matches at an average of 29.18 and an economy rate of 4.19. In the T20 Blast, she doubled her wicket tally in a single outing at Chelmsford, finishing with 10 scalps. Following Hampshire’s eight-wicket win over Lancashire Thunder in Blackpool on Tuesday—marking their third victory from six games—she now totals 11 wickets at 16.00 and an economy of 7.33. ## Adjusting to a new heartbeat rhythm Wellington describes her post-surgery experience as transformative, feeling her heart beat normally for the first time in her life. "I feel fantastic," she says. "I'm in a really good place. I've been able to feel my heart completely different now. It's weird. I can feel it beating normally, which is definitely not normal for me." The initial days after leaving the hospital were filled with moments of realization, as she had to pause and process the sensation of a steady heartbeat. "The first couple of days coming out of the hospital, I would have to sit down and acknowledge it because my heart was beating weird and I was like, 'This is actually normal.' It feels so different to what it used to." ## Surgery fears and partner’s support The period leading up to the operation was daunting for Wellington, who had never undergone general anesthesia before. She recalls discussing the risks with her partner, Humraj, the day before the procedure. "It is quite scary going into surgery, I've never been under (anaesthetic) as well, so the feeling of going in, having heart surgery, is quite scary and you just never know," she explains. "I remember I was talking to my partner the day before. I was like, 'If anything happens.. we've got to have this chat just in case'." ## Teammates’ backing eased the burden Wellington credits her South Australia teammates and support staff for creating a supportive environment before her surgery. "I got the news from the doctor about getting surgery and I rocked up to training the next day and I broke down in tears and all the girls hugged me," she shares. The emotional release came from fear, relief at having a safe space to express herself, and gratitude for the unwavering support during a significant life event. "I think the tears came from, one, I was scared, two, that I was actually in a safe environment to feel my feelings and deal with it because it's a bloody big thing, and three, I think it was just finally having that support around me to be vulnerable." ## Warm welcome at Hampshire At Hampshire, Wellington has found a similarly welcoming atmosphere from teammates, fans, and staff alike. "Hampshire have been absolutely amazing," she remarks. Entering a new team environment initially made her nervous, but her unique personality and vibrant social media presence were quickly embraced. "Coming into a new environment, you're very nervous and very on the down-low at first. But as soon as I joined the Hampshire girls, the girls accepted me for who I am." She even joked with them in the first team meeting about her quirks. "I did say to them in the first team meeting: 'I'm quite weird. I'm quite out there. I have my camera around. That is me, that's who I am.' And they accepted me from day one, which was awesome. The girls have welcomed me with open arms." ## Looking ahead to global events With the T20 World Cup set to begin in Birmingham on Friday, Wellington will split her focus between Hampshire’s domestic match against Yorkshire and commentary duties during the tournament. England opens against Sri Lanka on the same day. Although she hasn’t played for Australia since the 2022 World Cup—a campaign that included 14 ODIs—she has remained active in domestic and league cricket around the world. She also featured in the Commonwealth Games squad later that year without adding to her eight T20I appearances and earned a solitary Test cap during the 2017 Women’s Ashes. ## Content with domestic and league focus No longer in contention for Australian selection due to strong competition from leg-spinners like Georgia Wareham and Alana King, Wellington has found contentment in focusing on domestic and global leagues. She shared her perspective on the Powerplay podcast last year, expressing satisfaction with her career direction. "Instead of international honours, Wellington is content to focus on leagues and domestic competitions around the world, squeezing everything she can from her career, having just turned 29." Having played all five seasons of The Hundred, including leading the wicket-takers’ list in 2022, she went unsold in this year’s inaugural auction under new private equity ownership. ## Embracing uncertainty and future plans The auction outcome was disappointing, but Wellington remains philosophical. "It's tough," she admits. "New owners, new investors, an auction, you just never know what people want or what kind of players they want and I totally get it. I'm not playing international cricket anymore, which is probably the thing that puts me below a lot of people, which is fair enough." Despite the setback, she stays optimistic. "It's professional cricket. You have to deal with it. I'm just in a positive mind thinking there's always a chance that someone's going to pull out and I'm going to fill that place." Her long-term goal is to keep playing and contributing to cricket in every way possible. ## Passion for cricket and beyond Wellington’s love for the game drives her ambition to continue performing at a high level. "Play for as long as possible, that's my goal," she states. "I want to be able to bowl these ripping leggies until I'm like 38, 40-odd. I enjoy cricket so much and it's a passion of mine and it's my life and I love it." Even after her playing days, she envisions staying connected to the sport. "Even after cricket, I've thought about being in cricket as well. I want to go into media, I want to go into commentary, I want to go into spin coaching. I don't ever see myself walking away from the game."