Ellyse Perry - Star Of The Moment

Ellyse Perry became the seventh cricketer to score a double ton in women’s test cricket with an unbeaten 213 in 374 balls with 26 fours and a towering six, on the third day of the historic inaugural Day-Night Test of the Women’s Ashes series 2017 at the North Sydney Oval as Australia declared on 448/9, which gave them a 1 st innings lead of 168 runs.

Perry’s unbeaten 213, is now the highest score by an Aussie in Women’s Test, a record previously held by Karen Rolton since 2001. It also made her the third highest ever scoring batter in the history of women’s test cricket.

Perry arrived at the crease when Australia was 54/2 and soon they were three more down and flailing with Perry on 70* by the end of Day 2. Australia resumed on 177/5 on the third day while they were behind England by 103. It was moments later when Perry gained the momentum and started off from where she left the previous night.

By the end of the opening hour, Perry helped Laura Marsh down the leg side for her debut ton in any of the three formats since her international debut ten years ago and enjoyed an emotional embrace with childhood friend and wicket-keeper Alyssa Healy.

“We’ve played cricket together since we were about nine years old. I very much consider Midge (Healy), a sister. It was very special to be out there with her and to share that with her”, Perry said. Once she reached those three figures for the first time ever in the Australian colours, she kept on batting and batting, spreading like a house on fire over the England team with many beautiful shots, another beautiful partnership with debutant Tahlia McGrath (47) after her previous important partnerships with Haynes (33) on the previous day and Healy (45) earlier on that day before Megan Schutt (No.11) played another supporting role by playing some blocking shots making sure not to lose her wicket at least not before Perry could reach her double ton and she was gloriously successful in her job.

In the previous over while on 194, Perry clobbered a ball over mid-wicket and initially celebrated her double ton thinking the ball had cleared the rope but soon the umpire signalled it as a boundary and the celebrations were put on hold but only momentarily. “It came out of the middle OK, but the crowd just completely fooled me”, Perry said.

In the next over Perry took a single and Schutt survived the last two balls of it. Moments later the crowd was back on their feet when Ecclestone was hit to the boundary by Perry and she became the seventh woman in the world to score a double ton in test cricket.

When asked Perry about how she feels about her astounding innings she said, “It was fun, I think that’s probably the best way to describe it. I had an amazing time out there today batting with the girls and just taking in what was such a special day - the crowd attendance, it being the pink day, day three, just a really great event for women’s cricket.”

Her innings was one of patience, perseverance and immense dedication which will remain unforgettable by her and the world as well for a long- long time and which for sure have made a huge impact on the future of women’s test cricket. Now only time will tell how much of a ‘positive’ impact did the successful ashes women’s test actually had on women’s cricket all over the world.