Perry optimistic of being fit before WBBL knockouts

Ellyse Perry, Sydney Sixers captain, is optimistic of being fully fit ahead of the Women's Big Bash League's (WBBL) knockouts, starting December 7. The allrounder has been ruled out for three weeks after suffering a low-grade AC joint tear to her right bowling shoulder.

"It's hard to put a definite time frame on it because each day it's going to improve hopefully. I'm not worried about it all, I don't think anybody really is," Perry said. "I think everyone is pretty positive about (playing in the finals). With everything going well I should be available toward the end of the season, firstly if we make it and secondly if everything goes the way it's supposed to."

Perry fell awkwardly while attempting a catch during a thrilling last-ball loss to Melbourne Renegades on Sunday. Fielding on the long-on rope in Erin Burns' over, Perry leaped in the air attempting to intercept a lofted drive from the bat of Courtney Webb.

She, however, was unable to reel in the ball, landing and rolling on her right shoulder over the boundary rope. The Sixers skipper clutched her damaged arm immediately and although she showed little pain, she immediately knew something was not right.

"I sort of fell awkwardly, it felt a little bit funny and I heard something that didn't sound totally normal, it wasn't terrible at all. I suppose in that sense I just really wanted to finish the game and it ended up being an amazing game and we seem to have those kind of clashes against the Renegades."

In the absence of Perry, wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy has been handed the duties of captaincy. Last time when Healy led the side, Sixers won the 2016-17 title. She was the stand-in captain as Perry had suffered a hamstring injury during a match against Renegades.

Perry praised Healy's leadership, saying, "She's got her own style and flair. She's a wonderful leader in the group and when I'm playing she's very much front and centre of the way that we do things. I lean on her a lot."

"She's done the job before – she's captained us to a title a couple of years ago. The girls absolutely love working under her and I'm really looking forward to seeing how she goes tonight."