Australia’s star player Ellyse Perry is all set to play in the inaugural season of The Hundred as she has joined the Birmingham Phoenix for 2021 Edition.
Perry, who recently won the ICC Player of the Decade award, will be seen in action this summer alongside teammate Ashleigh Gardner. She will be joined by England wicketkeeper Amy Jones, allrounder Georgia Elwiss, and pacer Issy Wong & New Zealand captain Sophie Devine, who will also be leading the Birmingham Phoenix.
With Ellyse being the 20th player to join the competition, the ECB looks forward to filling the 4 overseas slots with the inclusion of Indian players, after approval from the BCCI. 11 players from team Australia, 5 from South Africa, 2 from New Zealand and 2 West Indies players have signed up for the competition so far.
#ICYMI Ellyse Perry will play for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred this summer. 😍#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/d3xhyvZtXS
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) March 18, 2021
The five-time T20I world cup winning champion, Ellyse Perry had this to say when asked what attracted her to The Hundred:
“The opportunity to be involved in something incredibly exciting and unique for the sport. To be part of the first edition and playing something I am sure will be talked about for a long period of time and have a successful run is the reason you play in the first place. It’s a real honor to be asked to be involved and I am really looking forward to having a crack at it. It will challenge the way we do a lot of things.”
“With 100 balls per side it’s going to be really exciting to play in, and I’m looking forward to helping introduce a new generation to cricket and hopefully inspiring them to pick up a bat and ball themselves,” she was quoted saying as per independent.co.uk
Perry will be returning to international matches after a year’s break as she last played a match during the Women’s T20 2020 World Cup, which she had to leave mid-way due to an injury.
“Ellyse is a world-class cricketer who would improve any team and we are thrilled that she will be turning out for us at Birmingham Phoenix this summer. I’ve been lucky to work with her over a number of years and I know her quality and work ethic will be a huge asset to us and the whole competition,” said head-coach Ben Sawyer.
Perry’s Australia team-mates will also be seen at The Hundred, including Meg Lanning and Alyssa Healy, while West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor and South Africa skipper Dane van Niekerk will also be seen in action.
“Ellyse’s participation in the Hundred shows that the competition continues to attract the best players from around the world. I truly believe that the Hundred will be a game-changer for women’s sport. By showcasing the most talented female cricketers on the planet, on a big stage, alongside the men, we have an opportunity to continue to normalize cricket as a sport for women and girls, as much as it is for men and boys, helping to inspire the next generation of players and fans,” said Beth Barrett-Wild, head of the women’s competition.
The Hundred will kick start with a women’s tournament this year, after being canceled last year due to the pandemic. The first match will be played between Manchester Originals and Oval Invincibles in London on July 21, whereas the Phoenix will play their first game against London Spirit at Edgbaston on July 23.
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