For some, it is unlucky 13 but for Ellyse Perry it is lucky 13. This year, her 13th on the international stage, saw Perry clean sweep all the ICC awards. But if we think that what we have seen till now is the best of Ellyse Perry, then we are truly mistaken. Ellyse Perry has lots more in store for us, for Australian cricket, and for all the aspiring cricketers around the world.
The dynamic player that she is, Perry got fast-tracked into the Australian team at a very young age. She made her ODI debut at just 16 years of age despite having never played a match at the senior level. The youngest-ever cricketer to debut for Australia, Perry took two wickets and scored 19 runs in a losing cause.
Less than a year after her ODI debut, Perry broke into the Australian T20 side as well and did not disappoint. Playing her first T20I match, at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, against arch-nemesis England, Perry made the cricketing world stand up and take notice. She showed the whole world what she was made of, showed the world her mettle. An outstanding all-around performance which included a knock of 29* from 25 balls with the bat and 4 wickets for just 20 runs with the ball saw Perry bag Player of the Match award on debut.
Here’s all you need to know about Ellyse Perry’s cricket career so far:
#OnThisDay, 13 years ago, Ellyse Perry played her first T20 international and bagged the Player of the Match on debut#Cricket | #Thread | 📸- @ESPNcricinfo pic.twitter.com/U5YbpyhzbN
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 1, 2021
World cup tournaments hold a special place in everybody’s heart. Sportspersons are no different. Irrespective of the number of bilateral series they win, irrespective of how many runs they score, irrespective of how long they play, their career is rather incomplete without playing and winning a World cup. The hero that Perry is, she found herself to be a part of major ICC tournaments in no time. She got her first taste of T20 World cups when she played in the inaugural Women’s World Twenty20. Although Australia couldn’t win the tournament, after losing to England in the semi-finals, Perry never looked back.
Perry was presented with another chance to get her hands on the coveted trophy and she grasped it with both hands. She played an integral part in Australia’s triumphant World Twenty20 campaign in the West Indies in 2010. In the finals, defending a low target of 106 against New Zealand, Perry ended with figures of 3/18 and was named Player of the Finals. Perry, along with Australia, went on to dominate the world stage by winning 3 consecutive World Twenty20 titles.
13 years ago,
Playing in her debut T20I match, Ellyse Perry took 4 Wickets and scored 29* Runs against England in Melbourne.
That’s how she announced her arrival in T20 Internationals 👏🔥#EllysePerry pic.twitter.com/JHDoMLe7M5
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 1, 2021
Like any other fast-bowling all-rounder, injuries have followed Perry throughout her career. Even during the latest World Twenty20 tournament, Perry suffered a torn hamstring for which she had to miss the latter part of the tournament. Always the team player, Perry stayed on with the team in a mentor role and helped Australia clinch their fifth World Twenty20 title.
Amelia Kerr joins the list of ‘Youngest Players to take 50 ODI Career Wickets’
1. Ellyse Perry
2. Holly Colvin
3. Amelia Kerr #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/nWP8k9cyg2— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 5, 2020
Ellyse Perry’s transformation from a football player to the best all-rounder the cricketing world has ever seen has been nothing short of exceptional. She has fought against every obstacle that has come her way and has emerged victorious every single time. She has already achieved a lot of things and she still has a long way to go in her career. She is hungrier than ever before and that is what the opposition needs to be scared of. The Australian fans can make merry but the rest of the world needs to brace itself against the storm that is about to come their way.
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