Ellyse Perry is already an Australian sporting legend – representing her country in two different sports before she could legally buy a beer locked that in early.
But 12 years into her national-level cricket career she’s still reaching new heights, with a Big Bash performance that has some fans wondering if selectors should be making a case for Australia fielding a mixed team in Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test.
On Saturday, Perry played for the Sydney Sixers in the Women’s Big Bash League, and scored a bonkers 103 not out from 64 balls. More remarkably, she was just two balls from the end of the innings and sitting on 92 – then hit a six on the next delivery, and a four on the final bowl.
With two balls remaining, Ellyse Perry was sitting pretty on 93 not out.
Here's what happened next! ? #WBBL04 pic.twitter.com/NcjqzYbWXH
— Rebel Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) December 22, 2018
She’s hit 421 runs in seven games just this tournament, with only three dismissals – and for perspective, 500 is considered pretty damn good in the men’s Big Bash.
The last few Big Bash seasons, 500 runs has been the mark for the very best players. This year Ellyse Perry has 419 in less than half her season. Averaging 210 per dismissal. Ridiculous form. #WBBL04
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) December 22, 2018
That is wild.
Here are some adjectives sports reporters are using about her form this WBBL:
“Ridiculous.”
“Sublime.”
“Blistering.”
“Unbelievable.”
“Insane… she’s in such great form right now that she makes the impossible seem routine — including making Don Bradman’s batting average look pedestrian.”
Ellyse Perry has 419 runs from six innings this @WBBL season. That's just absurd.
58
102*
74*
10
72*
103*#WBBL04 pic.twitter.com/ffNS69eXJ9— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 22, 2018
I mean she was gone for 2 off 10 Sunday with a very un-sublime LBW but hey, she’s only human. Even Bradman retired on a duck.
And there’s no shortage of people suggesting she might bolster Australia’s decidedly lacklustre men’s team for the Boxing Day test.
Easiest way to solve Aussie’s batting woes before the Boxing Day Test..just pick Ellyse Perry !!!
— Wayne Kratzmann (@Kratzie001) December 23, 2018
Let's get her in the Team for Boxing Day Test ?
— JoJo?? (@JojosTweet1) December 22, 2018
Can we play a mixed team in Melbourne?
— Brett Griffiths (@brettg72) December 22, 2018
Should replace Marsh on Boxing Day
— Luke Sheahen (@LukeSheahen) December 22, 2018
Is she available Boxing Day? @cricketcomau @WBBL
— Morgan Cleary (@MorgsCleary) December 22, 2018
And look, some of them might be joking. But when you remember that she’s the first Australian, fullstop, to take 100 wickets in Twenty20, or her blistering, sublime, ridiculous double century in last year’s Ashes – 213 undismissed – and that the men’s team is in a massive slump…
Well, it doesn’t sound like the dumbest idea in the world, does it?