Perry’s brilliance shines through

IN the past 12 months Ellyse Perry has scored her second Test century, recorded the best bowling figures for an Australian woman in a one-day international and was crowned the ICC player of the year.

Her status as one of the best athletes in Australia was enhanced even further last night when the star all-rounder took out her third Belinda Clarke Award.

Perry won the accolade ahead of opener and keeper Alyssa Healy who had a significant haul herself, winning the one-day and T20 player of the year awards for the second consecutive year.

But the all-round brilliance of Perry was too much for her teammates to contend with. Her 783 runs across all forms came at a Bradman-esque average of 97, and included three hundreds.

The 29-year-old also took 28 wickets including a career best 7-22 in a one-day game against England in Canterbury which rewrote the record books.

Perry has now won the top honour in three of the past five years, and wants to continually challenge herself to get better ahead of World Cup for which Australia are hot favourites.

“There’s going to be a talented group coming through that are stronger and fitter and faster and more talented than I ever was. Maybe that’s the challenge now, to find new ways of holding a place in the team. I like that thought,” she said.

“I think it’s more this motivation and willingness to challenge yourself and get better and know that you’ll never get there, but you are trying to be perfect, so there’s always things you can learn, things you can get better at and I really like that challenge.

“I like evolving and seeing where I have come from, where I have got to, and where I can go.”

Perry also overcame a shoulder injury last November, which threatened to de-rail her World Cup campaign, as well as shifting states, moving from NSW to Victoria.

Her celebrations will be muted however, with the women’s team returning to action on Wednesday with aT20 tri-series final against India at the Junction Oval.