Ellyse Perry doesn’t just play cricket; she elevates it. At 35, the Australian all-rounder remains a towering figure in the women’s game, on the field, in the dressing room, and now, in candid conversation with England’s Kate Cross and Alex Hartley on the No Balls Podcast.
Fresh from lifting her seventh ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and leading Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred 2026, Perry reflects on legacy, motivation, and what Lord’s truly means to her.
When Kate Cross asked Perry how lifting the T20 World Cup at Lord’s compared to past triumphs, from the MCG to Chittagong, Perry’s answer was layered with emotion and perspective. “It’s a pretty good feeling,” she said. “I thought the tournament was just run so well; it just felt in a lot of respects like another step forward in the women’s game.”
For Perry, Lord’s wasn’t just another venue; it was a statement. Australia, led by skipper Sophie Molineux, defeated England (captained by Nat Sciver-Brunt) by 7 wickets in front of a packed house on July 5, 2026. “To have those experiences was unbelievable and really cool,” Perry added, recalling also playing a group game against India at the same ground. “I think also off the back of like a couple of losses in semi-finals, to kind of get back there and do it the way we did.”
That triumph capped a stellar individual campaign: Perry finished as Australia’s second-highest run-scorer in the tournament with 198 runs at a strike rate of 132.88 and an average of 49.50 across seven innings, including two half-centuries.
Back in England, Perry was leading Birmingham Phoenix in the sixth edition of The Hundred (July 21–August 16, 2026). Though the side endured a disappointing campaign, finishing seventh with just 10 points from eight games (two wins, six losses, one washout), Perry stood out. She ended as Phoenix’s leading run-scorer with 223 runs at a strike rate of 136.80 and an average of 55.75 across seven innings, including two half-centuries.
Her performance underscored a familiar truth: even when teams falter, Perry delivers. Her ability to anchor innings while accelerating when needed remains unmatched in the T20 format.
Ellyse Perry’s career stats read like a masterclass in longevity and versatility. In T20Is, she has amassed 2,495 runs at a strike rate of 118.35 and an average of 31.18 across 124 innings, including 11 half-centuries in 181 matches. With the ball, she has claimed 131 wickets at an average of 18.54 and an economy of 5.84 in 142 innings, including four four-wicket hauls.
In ODIs, her numbers are even more staggering: 4,581 runs at a strike rate of 78.63 and an average of 48.22 in 140 innings, including 37 half-centuries and three centuries in 168 matches. She has also taken 166 wickets at an average of 25.56 and an economy of 4.38 in 139 innings, including three five-wicket hauls and a four-wicket haul.
In Tests, Perry’s impact is equally profound: 1,006 runs at an average of 59.17 in 24 innings, including five half-centuries and two centuries in 15 matches. With the ball, she has 39 wickets at an average of 21.82 and an economy of 2.47 in 23 innings, including two four-wicket hauls and a five-wicket haul.
When Alex Hartley asked what drives her to keep going at 35, Perry’s response was both simple and profound. “I really just love the challenge of trying to get better,” she said. “I find that really fulfilling, and I guess like cricket is the outlet for me at the moment.”
Surrounded by “the most amazing support and amazing friends,” Perry finds daily purpose in the grind. “I guess why I still wake up every day wanting to go to training and want to get better and be challenged in a new way, I can’t really fathom walking away from it.” That sentiment, rooted in love for the game, not just accolades, is what makes Perry not just a legend, but a lodestar for the next generation.
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