Heat’s on Perry to get ball singing

ELLYSE Perry is feeling the pressure, well aware she needs to lift her bowling output as she prepares to spearhead the Australian Test attack.

Depleted bowling stocks have demanded the star allrounder take over new-ball duties in Australia’s multiformat, seven-match series against India.

Having only just returned to bowling after a long-term hamstring injury, Perry struggled in the three one-day internationals in Mackay, conceding 103 runs across the games, with some wild early spells, which included 26 wides from her 14 overs.

Despite her struggles, Perry is set to open the bowling in the day-night Test match starting at Metricon Stadium on Thursday.

With the spotlight on her after an underwhelming early return, the 30year-old (pictured), who will be playing her ninth Test, knows she has to perform better with the ball.

“You’ve got to perform and contribute otherwise you don’t deserve to have those opportunities,” Perry said. “I’m very cognisant of that. There’s been some great performances across the group and it would be really lovely to contribute.”

Perry conceded she had been “very much off the mark” in Mackay.

“It’s a really good challenge for me to keep working on things and trying to find some good form that’s going to contribute to the team,” she said.

“At the same time there have been some wonderful performances in the bowling group, some young and fresh faces that have stepped up to the mark.

“That’s been brilliant and I’ve just got to try to keep up with them. There are pretty small margins technically sometimes with bowling and there are just a few little things that aren’t quite there so I’ll keep chipping away at it and see how it goes.”

Perry was pleased with the Australians’ overall effort in Mackay, where they won two of the three games.