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How many sportsmen do you know who play both football and cricket professionally? How about a sportswoman who has played for her country in the Cricket World Cup as well as the Football World Cup? Hard to believe? Ellyse Perry, at the age of 21, has done it all; she is the youngest Australian, male or female, to represent Australia in cricket, and the first Australian woman to star in both the cricket and football association World Cups. Hailing from New South Wales, Perry started playing cricket at the age of 7, and from that moment on, she has molded her dream and taken her career to exemplary levels. Perry’s universal appeal is what makes this young star widely recognized, a fact that was quite evident the last time she played in India, when she had queues of young girls waiting for her to finish training so they could get to see her and get photographed with her. In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Perry talks about her life’s experiences.
How did you develop a taste for cricket and when since have you been playing it?
I started playing cricket in the backyard with my family from a very young age. Growing up in Australia, playing sport and being physically active is a huge part of our culture, and I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play a number of different sports when I was younger. I joined my first cricket team at the age of 7, and loved every minute of it. I’ve been playing since then.
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How did it feel to not only have been a part of Australia’s T20 World Cup winning team, but to also have played a crucial role in the victory?
The 2010 T20 World Cup was a wonderful and very special experience; something that I feel very fortunate to have been a part of. And while I feel proud to have done by bit, one of the key things that made the tournament so special was the incredible team effort that contributed to us eventually winning the tournament.
How did your interest in football grow? While growing up, did you ever think you’d represent Australia in the World Cup some day, in both cricket and football?
I loved playing sport and was a very active kid. When I was young, the highlight of my week was going to cricket and football practice and playing matches on the weekend. For me, the enjoyment I derive from both sports is what has always driven me to participate in them. Very fortunately, I have been able to perform competently in both sports, and ultimately I even got to represent my country at the international level, but I never set out specifically to do so. For me the most important thing is enjoying and playing each sport and often as I possibly can.
Was it hard to juggle the two sports and devote enough time to excel at each of them the way you have done?
I have some wonderful support that stems from my family and friends, as well as my team mates, which is extremely encouraging. Cricket Australia and Football Federation Australia have also been extraordinarily supportive and have done many things to ease my situation. Juggling the two sports has always been facilitated through the management skills of all the people around me. I probably have the easiest job – I’ve just got to play!
You are the youngest Australian to play an international cricket match; how did you feel about having made the break so early?
It was a wonderful experience, and something that I feel very lucky to now have with me for the rest of my life. Having said that, I don’t think it would have felt any different or any less special if it had happened when I was older. Just that the opportunity to play a match for your country is truly the most special thing.
You played for a men’s side in Sydney grade cricket recently; what was that like? What difference did you find between the women’s game and the men’s game having been a firsthand witness at both?
I played all of my junior cricket with the boys and loved it. There are certainly some differences; for instance just the physical discrepancy between men and women. I really enjoy playing with the boys and all the banter that goes on in the changing room and on the field. Fortunately, it was very easy to go back to playing with the boys as they were all super-welcoming and made the day a lot of fun.
What has been your favourite cricketing moment until now in women’s and men’s cricket?
That’s an incredibly tough question! I’m really not sure, but I do get extremely excited about where the women’s game is heading and I also think that there is huge opportunity for it to grow even bigger. From the men’s side of the game, having the opportunity to grow up watching the likes of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting all play in the same team and be so dominating in world cricket was incredible. I think all those guys are once-in-a-generation players.
What has sport given you and how has it molded you as a person? What are the lessons you’ve learned from playing various sports?
Sport is incredible, in the sense that many of the experiences you have while playing translate into other aspects and areas of life. I really believe that playing cricket and soccer has shaped and influenced a lot of other areas in my life, most particularly the capacity to recognize just how many wonderful opportunities there are if you are willing to put an effort in to experience them.
Who is your favourite cricketer?
My favorite cricketer has to be Michael Hussey.
Who is your favourite sportsperson? What about them has inspired you to follow your dreams?
Roger Federer – I really admire his ability to make playing tennis look so effortless. Also the way he carries himself both and off the court in such a dignified manner is just amazing.
Is it sometimes discouraging that despite the female team’s achievements, the men’s team is the one that is largely concentrated on?
Not at all – the men deserve every piece of recognition. They are extremely talented athletes and provide a large amount of entertainment and inspiration to many people. Having said that, it would be fantastic if one day, women’s cricket is able to make the same kind of impact. It’s something that I think we are very much capable of doing.
How hard is it for a woman to make her mark in a widely male-dominated sport like cricket?
Well I think the first thing to do is to avoid making comparisons between the female and the male game. I think there are a lot of inherent differences between the two and to try and to compare a male and female player is very difficult. I think the only way to do so, is to draw parallels between the kind of impact a player has had on the game from a statistical perspective.
What is your favourite format of the game?
The vintage format – Test cricket.
How has your tour of India been and how have you enjoyed the success on this tour?
India was really fun and it was a very enjoyable tour. It is such an amazing country to explore and I really loved meeting so many different people along the way. It was also nice to be involved with the team as we played some really good cricket as well.
Given the largely widespread perception that cricket is a man’s game, do you think women’s cricket is put on the back burner in world cricket? Do you see that perception ever changing?
I think there are some really fantastic opportunities for the women’s game to grow and improve, as it has done over the last 5 or so years. It would be a mistake to think of women’s cricket as a repressed or forgotten entity, because I think there is so much potential there for young girls and new participants to be involved and really appreciate what cricket has to offer.
What do you think should be done to promote and encourage women’s cricket all around the world?
I think encouraging more women to be involved at any level – whether that is playing, coaching, volunteering, supporting, spectating or simply encouraging their children to play will help promote women’s sport as a whole. It would be nice to see an increase in the participation numbers in the near future.
Check out our other exclusive interviews:
https://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/04/06/exclusive-interview-with-delhi-daredevils-glenn-maxwell/
https://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/04/03/exclusive-interview-with-australian-batsman-peter-forrest/
