In July 2007, a 16-year-old teen with a calm demeanour and unmistakable talent pulled on the green and gold for the first time. She became the youngest Australian ever to play international cricket when she debuted in the second ODI of the Rose Bowl series against New Zealand, before her 17th birthday, despite never having played a domestic match at the senior level.
It was a quiet but significant debut. Although Australia lost by 35 runs, the teenager made an immediate impact. Perry bowled eight tidy overs, claiming two wickets before contributing 19 runs with the bat from number nine. An Australian sporting icon had quietly arrived.
Less than a fortnight later, she pulled on another national jersey, this time for the Matildas, scoring in just the second minute of her international football debut against Hong Kong. By doing so, she became the first woman to represent Australia in World Cups in two sports, a remarkable achievement before finishing high school. Perry’s athletic ability was clear from the outset.
Eighteen years on, she stands as one of the most decorated and admired athletes in Australian history. From prodigy to all-time great, Perry has redefined the role of an all-rounder in women’s cricket.
A Record of Excellence Across Formats
Perry’s Test record is outstanding. In 14 matches, she has amassed 930 runs at an impressive average of 58.12, including a career-best unbeaten 213 against England. This tally places her second on the list of most Test runs for Australian women. With the ball, she has claimed 39 wickets at an average of 21.82, featuring two five-wicket hauls.
Her dominance is even more striking in the one-day format. Perry has scored 4,187 runs at an average of 48.69, ranking fourth among Australia’s all-time highest ODI run-scorers. She also ranks second in most wickets taken in ODIs for Australia, with 166 wickets at an average of 25.38. Her career-best figures of 7 for 22 against England remain the best bowling performance by an Australian woman in ODIs.
In T20 internationals, Perry continues to break new ground. With 2,173 runs, she ranks fourth among Australia’s highest run-scorers in the format. She has also taken 126 wickets, placing her second in Australia’s wicket tally for T20 internationals. Perry became the first cricketer across genders to achieve the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in T20Is in 2019. In 2024, she also became the first woman in history to reach the staggering milestone of over 7,000 international runs and 300 wickets.
Domestic Dominance by Ellyse Perry
Perry’s impact on the domestic game has been just as significant. For the Sydney Sixers in the Women’s Big Bash League, she has scored over 4,689 runs and taken 70 wickets in 134 matches. Her leadership and consistency have made her one of the faces of the competition since its inception.
In India’s Women’s Premier League, Perry has represented Royal Challengers Bangalore, scoring 972 runs at an average of 64.8, making her the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament’s history. Her 6 for 15 against Mumbai Indians remains the best bowling figures recorded in the competition to date. In 2024, she won the Orange Cap by scoring 347 runs at an average close to 70, playing a crucial role in helping RCB secure their maiden WPL title.
Ellyse Perry: A Champion on the Global Stage
Perry’s list of international achievements is unmatched. She has been part of two ICC Women’s ODI World Cup-winning teams and six ICC Women’s T20 World Cup triumphs. Remarkably, she is one of the very few players to have featured in every edition of the T20 World Cup since its inception in 2009.
Honours and Recognition for Ellyse Perry
Her brilliance has been recognised globally across formats and competitions. Perry was twice named the ICC Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Women’s Cricketer of the Year, in 2017 and 2019. In 2019, she was also named the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year. The following year, she received a historic sweep of honours: ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Decade, ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade (2011–2020), and ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade (2011–2020). She was named the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Player of the Final in 2010 and has twice been selected as the Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the World, in 2016 and 2019.
Domestically, Perry has been equally dominant. She was named the Women’s Big Bash League Player of the Tournament in both 2018–19 and 2024–25. She is also a three-time winner of the prestigious Belinda Clark Medal, awarded to Australia’s best female cricketer, in 2015–16, 2017–18, and 2018–19.
Off the pitch, Perry has become a beacon for aspiring athletes. Her humility, work ethic, and grace under pressure have made her not just a champion but a role model.
The Legacy Lives On for Ellyse Perry
At 34, Ellyse Perry continues to be an integral part of Australia’s success. Her form and fitness show no sign of decline, and her presence remains as influential as ever.
Eighteen years after that first appearance against New Zealand, Ellyse Perry’s journey is still unfolding. With every match, she adds to a legacy already secured among the greatest in sporting history, not just in cricket, but in Australian sport as a whole.
As she continues to lead with bat and ball, Perry will now have her sights set on the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup, scheduled to take place in the subcontinent in September 2025. With her experience, form, and unrelenting drive, she will be eager to add another feather to an already glittering cap and help Australia chase yet another world title.