100 of the Most Influential Women in Sport >> Athletes
Ellyse Perry, Australia
Cricket and Football
Australian cricket has been the subject of many a joke in the past year, but it feels as if it’s within Ellyse Perry’s power to single-handedly swat every punchline away.
– At the age of 16, the former defender was handed both of her football and cricket international debuts within two weeks of each other.
– As of February 2019 Perry was the ICC’s top-ranked female all-rounder and second-ranked batter in ODIs, and in the top five for all-rounders and bowlers in T20s.
– Her unbeaten score of 213 against England in the 2017 Ashes is the best-ever Test score by a female Australian cricketer, beaten Karen Rolton’s record by four runs.
– During last year’s World Twenty20, Perry became the first Australian – male or female – to appear in 100 international T20s.
– Perry will leave New South Wales to play her domestic cricket in Victoria this year as she moves closer to her husband Matt Toomua, the rugby union player who has signed for the Melbourne Rebels.
Did you know…
When it came to choosing cricket over football, Perry’s choice was made for her. In 2014, then coach Hesterine de Reus declared Perry would not be selected as her limited playing time meant she felt short of international standards.
“They’re not dreams, but you’re still thinking about playing your sport when you close your eyes and you’re trying to get to sleep. That’s how much you enjoy it, I think. That’s how consumed you are by it. That’s how much it means to you. I still have nights like that.” – Ellyse Perry
Twitter: @EllysePerry
Instagram: ellyseperry