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Perry opts for cricket over W-League

29th January, 2016
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Dual international Ellyse Perry has opted to play in the Twenty20 dead rubber instead of the W-League grand final.

Perry was on Friday named by Sydney FC to play in the W-League decider at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.

However, the Southern Stars’ three-match T20 series against India wraps up on the same day at the SCG.

It’s understood Perry spoke with Sky Blues mentor Daniel Barrett after her side’s 10-wicket loss at the MCG on Friday, confirming she would stay with the national team.

Australia skipper Meg Lanning had no problems with Perry’s code-clash conundrum, calling it great for women’s sport.

“That’s up to Ellyse and Cricket Australia and her club to decide,” Lanning said.

“It’s great for women’s sport. It’s great that she’s such a good player at both.

“I’ve got no problem with it.”

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Sydney FC were surprise qualifiers for the showpiece match, defeating favourites Canberra United last Sunday in the semi-final without Perry.

It’s not the first time Perry, 25, has faced this dilemma.

Perry left Canberra United four years ago after the W-League club asked for her total commitment to football.

In 2013, the multi-sport wonder chose a W-League semi-final with new side Sydney FC over a state T20 final with NSW.

In 2015, Perry chose against the immersive training camps, designed to prepare national football side, the Matildas, for the Women’s World Cup in Canada.

Instead, she toured England with the Southern Stars, taking more wickets and making more runs than any other woman to be named player of the series.

Perry resumed dual duties this summer, playing a string of matches for Sydney around the Women’s Big Bash League.

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The W-League grand final concludes the domestic football season, while the Southern Stars tour New Zealand in February then head to India for the women’s T20 World Cup.

Earlier this week, Perry won the Belinda Clark award, the highest individual Australian women’s cricket honour.

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