Not only is Ellyse Perry the best woman cricketer in Australia, she’s the best in the world.
The 28-year-old’s stats prove it, and the ICC’s rankings of November 12 support the recognition as the world’s number one batter, the world’s number one all-rounder, and the ninth-ranked bowler.
So why is Perry batting seven, and bowling late, at the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean?
It doesn’t make any sense.
The accepted batting order, with current tournament averages:
(1) Alyssa Healy – 78.50.
(2) Beth Mooney – 26.75.
(3) Meg Lanning (c) – 18.65.
(4) Ashleigh Gardner – 14.33.
(5) Elyse Villani – 9.00.
(6) Rachel Haynes – 38.00
(7) Ellyse Perry – 57.00.
There’s no argument about Healy, Mooney, and Lanning filling the first three spots.
Healy has been dynamic with 48 off 29, 56* off 31 that included a 21-ball half-century, the fastest in World Cup history, and the second fastest of all-time, plus 53 off 38 – for three successive player-of-the-match awards.
She didn’t bat in the last group game against India after colliding heavily with fast bowler Megan Schutt late in the Indian innings. The incident left the keeper concussed.
Neither called for the catch, a cardinal sin, and the penalty was severe.
Mooney, and Lanning, have been very disappointing. Both are a lot better than that so someone will pay and there will be no better time than early Friday morning AEST when the Australians clash with the West Indies, the defending champions, in a sudden-death semi.
Perry must bat at four in that game to give her enough time to get among the big runs.
Australia’s Ellyse Perry bats (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
So far in this tournament Perry has scored 6* off 2, 9* off 10, 3 off 6, and 39* off 28 to average 57 from once out.
That is a tragic waste of talent, and the same applies with the ball.
Perry’s tournament figures have been 0-12 off one, 2-12 off four, 1-24 off three, and 3-16 off three – that’s 6-64, averaging 10.67.
Hello, when is the penny going to drop to have Ellyse Perry on duty far earlier with both bat and ball?
The West Indies will have the high quality of Hayley Matthews, skipper Stafanie Taylor, and Deandra Dottin at the top of their batting order ready to take the Australian opening attack apart.
So there’s no point in valuable quick Megan Schutt sharing the new ball with a left-arm orthodox spinner like Sophie Molineaux, or leggie Georgia Wareham, it must be Schutt and Perry – the best against the best.
That will decide the outcome, as there are rarely any second chances in a sudden-death semi of a World Cup.
If the skipper has overlooked the past, just look at Ellyse Perry’s career stats after exactly 100 internationals in the T20 format.
She has scored 948 runs at 27.08 with a strike rate of 104.75, and taken 97 wickets at 19.52 with a strike rate of 19.7.
Those stats demand more involvement.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Maybe, or maybe she should be opening with Healy as she can be the one to rotate the strike and bat deep while the player at the other end does most of the hitting. That would more suit her style of batting than shoving her at #7 where, if she does get a bat, she needs to basically come out swinging, which definitely doesn't suit her.
Alex McLaren
Guest
You obviously have no idea in regard to cricket stats. Average determined by runs divided by dismissals.
Jason
Roar Rookie
Amazing you would comment on a cricket story and not know that ? And not to acknowledge James for pointing it out.
James Robinson
Roar Rookie
In cricket, Batting AVG is on runs per wicket, not runs per innings.
PJ
Guest
David if you have read any of the articles on the Women's World Cup you would have seen the article in last weekends paper where Matthew Mott explained why Perry was batting so far down the order. It was a decision based on strike rates.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
So she has had 100 matches but only batted 57 times. furthermore she has 22 not outs. Batting down the order in T20 is a lose lose position. You get less of a chance against poorer teams or on good wickets. Then you have to start hitting from the first ball and you run our of balls even if you go well and get your eye in. Her average by position clearly shows how much of an affect it has. Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 0 4s 6s 2nd position 2015-2018 4 4 2 139 55* 69.50 128 108.59 0 1 0 19 0 view innings 3rd position 2016-2018 5 5 2 124 55* 41.33 119 104.20 0 1 1 11 4 view innings 4th position 2014-2017 17 17 7 297 55* 29.70 295 100.67 0 1 0 22 7 view innings 5th position 2013-2017 7 7 2 131 42 26.20 124 105.64 0 0 0 12 1 view innings 6th position 2010-2018 9 9 3 151 39* 25.16 137 110.21 0 0 0 11 3 view innings 7th position 2008-2018 6 6 2 42 29* 10.50 44 95.45 0 0 1 2 1 view innings 8th position 2010-2012 4 4 1 45 24* 15.00 45 100.00 0 0 0 2 0 view innings 9th position 2013-2013 1 1 1 7 7* - 3 233.33 0 0 0 1 0 view innings 10th position 2009-2011 4 4 2 12 4* 6.00 10 120.00 0 0 1 0 0
Matt H
Roar Guru
On the bowling front, no argument at all. On the batting front they just need to be more flexible, get her in at four if we lose two quick wickets. If we are going like a train then sure, leave her down the order because belting 20 off 11 is not her forte.
MM
Guest
57 runs total from 4 games is an average of 14.25 per game.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Seems correct to me.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Agree James. Look at the context of the games. With Healy setting the pace and the other top order supporting well, you need a big hitter to ice the cake. The last game with Healy out was more the situation to suit Perry, accumulating quickly at one end while the other blazes away. Not that it turned out like that. Mind you if she opened the batting and bowling in all forms I'd be happy - I could watch a champion play all day long!
MM
Guest
'Average 57 from once out'. Not correct. 57 is the total runs Perry scored.
JamesH
Roar Guru
For context, Rachael Haynes has a very similar T20I batting average to Perry at the superior strike rate of 117.
JamesH
Roar Guru
She could be bumped up the batting order a spot or two, but T20 has never been her best format with the bat. She has just 3 50s from 100 matches with a top score of 55. Big hitting from the word go just isn't her forte. The batting ranking you are citing is her ODI ranking. In that format she tends to take a bit more time to set herself before switching gears, and she does it very well. In T20I batting she is 'only' ranked 25 in the world, with the three you mentioned plus Villani all above her in the top 13. She is the number 9 bowler and the number 3 allrounder. I do agree that she is being under-utilised in terms of her bowling. It was a big blunder to rely so heavily on spin against India when Perry only bowled three overs and finished with 3/16 (while fellow medium pacer Vlaeminck bowled just two overs for 0/9).