According to a press release by the ECB, Australia’s cricketing icon Ellyse Perry has signed up for Birmingham Phoenix to join other cricketer stars from world cricket in the brand new 100-ball competition The Hundred.
Representing Birmingham Phoenix in the inaugural season of the brand new competition,tThe ICC Women’s Player of the Decade will join forces with Ashleigh Gardner, New Zealand’s Sophie Devine and England’s Amy Jones and Georgia Elwiss.
Ellyse Perry said: “I can’t wait to come over to the UK and get involved in The Hundred this summer. It’s fantastic to see how it’s put women’s cricket in the spotlight and attracted so many of the world’s top players to come and play in it.
“With 100 balls per side it’s going to be really exciting to play in, and I’m looking forward to helping introduce a new generation to cricket and hopefully inspiring them to pick up a bat and ball themselves.”
Perry became the youngest cricketer to play for Australia in the year 2007. She also played a part in the Australian team that won the 2013 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2020. Perry was recently decorated with the title of the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Decade.
The Hundred will showcase world-class domestic and international players in men’s and women’s events, it will kick start from July this year and feature eight city-based teams from Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Southampton and two from London. Oval Invincibles will take on Manchester Originals at the first match of the tournament on July 21. Beth Barrett-Wild, Head of The Hundred Women’s Competition, said: “Ellyse’s participation in The Hundred shows that the competition continues to attract the best players from around the world.
“By showcasing the most talented female cricketers on the planet, on a big stage, alongside the men, we have an opportunity to continue to normalise cricket as a sport for women and girls, as much as it is for men and boys. I truly believe that The Hundred will be a gamechanger for women’s sport.”
Ben Sawyer, Birmingham Phoenix women’s team Head Coach said: “Ellyse is a world-class cricketer who would improve any team and we are thrilled that she will be turning out for us at Birmingham Phoenix this summer. I’ve been lucky to work with her over a number of years and I know her quality and work-ethic will be a huge asset to us and the whole competition.”