Ellyse Perry set to go under the knife

Australia allrounder Ellyse Perry has been sidelined for at least six months, with the 29-year-old set to go under the knife on her injured hamstring next week. The injury occurred during Australia’s final T20 World Cup group stage game against New Zealand on March 2 when she tore her hamstring from the bone while attempting an athletic throw in the field.

The injury, which is severe in her 12-year long career, means Ellyse Perry will only be able to cheer her teammates from sidelines during the final against India at a packed MCG on Sunday (March 8). Perry will also miss Australia’s upcoming limited-overs tour of South Africa, beginning March 22 and the Women's T20 Challenge in May.

“The timing has been good, I still get to come tomorrow and next week I’ll (have surgery),” Perry said at the MCG on Saturday (March 7). “From my perspective, I’ve had the most incredible run, I’ve been very fortunate with injury for a long period of time.”

“On a personal note, it’s a challenge, I’m sort of looking forward to it in a roundabout way – I wish it wasn’t the case, but at the same time I’m sure there’s lots of things I can take from it and learn from it as well. Our physio and doc is going to get really sick of me if they’re not already,” she added.

Since that New Zealand game, Perry has been with the Australian squad and admitted that it would be hard watching from outside in the final before stating she would provide whatever support or advice she could.

“I’ll be trying to keep my nerves at bay,” she said.

“I feel incredibly fortunate and chuffed that Motty (head coach Matthew Mott) and the group wanted to keep me around, it’s nice to be here and take it all in.” Earlier, just a day before the T20 World Cup, Australia lost pacer Tayla Vlaeminck due to a stress fracture in her foot.

The Australian players donned new-look training shirts for Saturday’s session, with Perry and Vlaeminck’s names and numbers printed on each sleeve. “They are pretty much carrying us on their shoulders at the moment because neither of us can walk that well,” Perry joked.

“But on a serious note, the whole group has been incredible and from Tay and I’s (sic) perspective, we feel lucky to be part of a group that is as tight-knit and caring like this. It’s like a second family, so it’s been nice to stick around.”