Australian legend Ellyse Perry is not just a professional cricket player; she is a miraculous phenomenon. A bonafide superstar who has redefined the benchmarks of all-round excellence, Perry’s legacy in the sporting world is unparalleled.
From making her sporting debut as a footballer, Perry had the blessed acumen to drive excellence at the crunchiest of occasions. She made her football debut in 2007 at the age of 16. The all-round cricket individual, who participated in the 2009 T20 World Cup, made her FIFA World Cup debut in 2011 in Germany, where she was the sole goal scorer for the Matildas in their 3-1 quarter final defeat to Sweden.
Perry is more than just a born-athlete—she is an idol who has inspired generations for decades with her sheer brilliance, dedication and consistency.
In a recent video shared by the Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik, the mentor of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) men’s team, heaped immense praise on Ellyse Perry, speaking at length about her immense contribution to the women’s RCB squad. Karthik begins lauding the legendary player by mentioning that she must have surely been a key target for the team management in the inaugural auction, alongside skipper Smriti Mandhana.
Karthik dived into understanding Perry’s batting style, pointing out her ability to play at a crucial no.3 spot in the batting lineup. He added that she has the knack of being a fine bowler and had no doubt about her athleticism – tagging her as one of the fittest and best fielders in the women’s cricketing fraternity.
The 34-year-old bagged the orange cap and has eventually become the highest run-getter in the history of the Women’s Premier League.
“Watch her on TV, she would be constantly running from long-on to long-on, deep mid-wicket to deep midwicket – consistently throughout the 20 overs- that’s how valuable she is as a fielder.”
“She has been such a diamond for RCB. When the RCB men’s team started their journey many years ago, a player played at No.3 (referring to Virat Kohli), who became a legend, here’s Ellyse Perry doing it so wonderfully well and it is so nice that she is such an important cog in the wheel for RCB women’s team and almost everyone she does well, RCB women go on to that game and that’s good for RCB.”
Karthik wishes the best for Perry and is certain that she will move from strength to strength.
As one of the most reliable all-rounders in the game, Perry has not only amassed runs consistently but also played crucial knocks that have turned games in RCB’s favor. Perry is the highest run-scorer in WPL history with an incredible record of 835 runs in 20 innings. She is a vital asset owing to her ability to lead innings while boosting the scoring rate.
The 34-year old’s record extends far beyond her batting skills. She holds the accolade for the best bowling numbers in an innings, delivering a magnificent spell of 6/15 against Mumbai Indians in the 2024 season. In addition, she stands alongside Asha Sobhana, who registered 5/22, as the only players to claim the highest number of five-wicket hauls for RCB in the history of the WPL.
The 2024 season proved to be a seminal moment for both Ellyse Perry and her team, as they secured their first-ever WPL title with a dominant eight-wicket victory over Meg Lanning’s Delhi Capitals in the final. Perry played an instrumental part in the team’s success, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with a remarkable tally of 347 runs.
In the ongoing third season, Perry has set the stage on fire with 235 runs in 4 innings with an average above 117 and the best score of 90* and the lady is set to unleash the best and amend more records.
(Quotes sourced from Cricbuzz)
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