Record-breaking Perry revels in personal and team success
ICC
|| Desk Report ||
Star Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who powered her side to yet another win against England on Sunday, 28 July, is immensely proud of the team's hot streak, and her own contribution towards it.
Perry's consistent performances in the ongoing Ashes series have been instrumental to Australia's success on the tour. The all-rounder has been the chief architect in three of her team's five wins so far.
She won her fourth Player of the Match award in the multi-format series on Sunday and, in the process, became the only cricketer, male or female, to achieve a double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in T20 internationals.
"I guess it’s lovely, but I wasn’t aware of it," said Perry, whose unbeaten 47 guided Australia to a comfortable seven-wicket win in the second T20I on Sunday.
"I have played a pretty big volume of games now. When you’ve played 100 games you might get close to it. That’s probably the only reason I’m there – because I’ve played a lot of games."
Throughout the tour, Perry has demonstrated her skills as a world-class all-rounder, producing some unbelievable performances. In the second game of three-match ODI series played in Leicester, the Sydney-born cricketer registered bowling figures of 7/22, the best ever by an Australian in 50-overs cricket. She followed this up with scores of 116 and 76* in the rain affected drawn Test in Taunton- a game which seemed in Australia's control for most part.
Perry, who stitched an unbeaten 87-run stand with skipper Meg Lanning on Sunday, was very pleased with her team's overall performance and acknowledged her captain's role in the partnership.
"It has just been really nice to turn up every game and for us to perform and to find a way to win and win dominantly," Perry said. "It was really cool to be out there with Meg. I really enjoy batting with her and she’s incredible when she’s going. To be at the other end is quite easy really."
Perry's effectiveness with the ball has been exemplified by her performances against Amy Jones, England's opener. Jones came into the series averaging well over 50 in her last ten limited-overs innings, but Perry has had her number, dismissing her four times for the cost of five runs in 25 deliveries.
Perry, however, feels the England opener will be back at her best soon. "Quite honestly, I haven’t thought about it and that’s with no disrespect to Amy because I think she’s a wonderful player," Perry said. "I’m not sure many of those balls have been particularly good balls. I think maybe - I hope she doesn’t mind me saying - there’s been some interesting decisions and I think she just feels the pressure a bit.
"She’s trying to get things going and it’s been her shot selection to various balls which have got her out rather than my good bowling. It’s been one of those series where we’ve found ourselves up against each other a bit. I’m sure she’ll get out of it at some point."
Source: ICC
