In a stroke of timeless brilliance at the W.A.C.A. in Perth, 35-year-old legendary all-rounder Ellyse Perry scripted history on day two of the pink-ball Test against India, edging past 1,000 runs in Women’s Tests to become Australia’s leading run-scorer, only the second after Karen Rolton, and the only woman to reach the landmark across all three formats.
Perry, resuming on 43* (62 balls) alongside Annabel Sutherland (20*), wasted no time settling in despite entering the match under a quad injury cloud that sidelined her from the preceding ODIs. She unfurled the first six of Australia’s innings to notch her half-century from 70 balls, her first in Tests since July 2023.
One hour into the session, a single took her to 1,000 career Test runs in her 15th match and 24th innings. Moments later, a crisp four down the ground eclipsed Rolton’s Australian record of 1,002. Dismissed lbw by Deepti Sharma for 76 (116 balls, 10 fours, 1 six) in the 48th over, Ellyse Perry now has 1,006 Test runs at an elite average of 59.17 and strike rate of 46.66 across 24 innings in 15 matches, including 5 half-centuries, 2 centuries, and 39 wickets. Her format-best 213* (374 balls, 27 fours, 1 six) came in 2017 against England at North Sydney, earning Player of the Match in a drawn Test.
This knock rocketed her into the global top 10 Women’s Test run-scorers (led by England’s Jan Brittin’s 1,935 in 44 innings), with her average second only to Enid Bakewell’s 59.88. Uniquely, Perry is the first Australian woman, and seventh overall, to hit 1,000 runs in each format, and the only player with 1,000+ Test runs and 30+ wickets. Playing as a specialist batter here, she won’t add to those wickets, but her all-round aura endures.
The landmark unfolded in Alyssa Healy’s farewell series, her 299th and final international appearance after announcing retirement pre-series. Australia, led by the skipper, won the toss and bowled first, skittling India for 198 (62.4 overs). Jemimah Rodrigues top-scored (52 off 84), with Shafali Verma (35 off 48), debutant Kashvee Gautam (34* off 54), and Harmanpreet Kaur (19 off 15) contributing. Australia’s bowlers starred: Annabel Sutherland (4/46), debutant Lucy Hamilton (3/31), Darcie Brown (2/41).
India’s response on day one left Australia 96/3 (27 overs, trailing by 102), but Perry and Sutherland’s unbeaten 38-run stand steadied the ship. On day two, their alliance extended to 128 runs (169 balls) for the 4th wicket, the second highest for the 4th wicket in pink-ball Women’s Tests, and propelled Australia to 284/8 (79 overs, leading by 86 at drinks). Perry’s partner Sutherland also reached fifty (70 balls). India’s debutants: Sayali Satghare, Kranti Gaud, Pratika Rawal and Kashvee Gautam were impressive.
This one-off Test (4 points) caps a multi-format series from February 15 to March 9, 2026: India snatched the T20Is 2-1 (wins by 21 runs DLS, loss by 19, win by 17), but Australia whitewashed the ODIs (6-wicket, 5-wicket, 185-run margins). Scoreline: Australia leads 8-4, with India eyeing a leveler at the iconic W.A.C.A.
Ellyse Perry’s milestone, from her 2008 debut against England at Bowral, reaffirms her as women’s cricket’s ultimate ironwoman, resilient, record-breaking, irreplaceable.
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