Ellyse Perry is feeling the pressure

Depleted bowling stocks have demanded the star all-rounder take over new-ball duties in Australia’s multi-format, seven-match series against India.

Having only just returned to bowling after a long-term hamstring injury, Perry struggled in the three one-day internationals in Mackay, conceding 103 runs across the matches with some wild early spells, which included 26 wides from her 14 overs.

Despite her struggles, Perry is set to again open the bowling in the one-off day-night Test match starting at Metricon Stadium on Thursday.

With the spotlight on her after an underwhelming early return, the 30-year-old, who will be playing her ninth Test, knows she has to perform better when the ball gets thrown her way.

“You’ve got to perform and contribute otherwise you don’t deserve to have those opportunities,” Perry said on Wednesday.

“I’m very cognisant of that. There’s been some great performances across the group and it would be really lovely to contribute.”

Perry conceded she had been “very much off the mark” in Mackay.

“It’s a really good challenge for me to keep working on things and trying to find some good form that’s going to contribute to the team,” she said.

“At the same time there have been some wonderful performances in the bowling group; some young and fresh faces that have stepped up to the mark.

“That’s been brilliant and I’ve just got to try to keep up with them.

“There are pretty small margins technically sometimes with bowling and there are just a few little things that aren’t quite there, so I’ll keep chipping away at it and see how it goes.”

Many believe the Test arena best suits Perry, particularly with the bat.

In Australia‘s most recent Test, a July 2019 draw against England at Taunton, Perry top scored in both of her side’s innings with knocks of 116 and 78 not out. She also took 1-44 with the ball in England’s only innings of the match.

“I’m not sure it suits me best, but I just think it’s a really enjoyable format,” she said.

“There’s a lot of time, and it’s the traditional format of the game, too.

“For all of us, we really relish the challenge of putting four good days of cricket together in both the field and with the bat.

“We all love Test matches. They’re pretty rare in women’s cricket. The opportunity to wear whites and the baggy green – it’s really exciting.”

Perry was pleased with the Australians‘ overall effort in Mackay, where despite having their world-record winning streak in one-day internationals ended at 26 matches, they won two of the three games.

“We played some really great cricket in those first three games. It’s been a really good contest, which is just brilliant,” she said.

“The Indian team is incredibly skilful and it’s going to be a really great challenge for both sides out there.”

What’s up with Ellyse Perry?

Rachael Haynes was “devastated” after the star batter was ruled out of this week’s Test against India with a hamstring issue as coach Matthew Mott revealed he’d stick with Ellyse Perry to open the bowling despite an underwhelming one-day series.

The match on the Gold Coast is set to proceed despite Mott conceding everyone was concerned amid an escalating Covid situation in south-east Queensland forced a Sheffield Shield game in Brisbane to be abandoned.

Mott said it was “business as usual” with a Thursday afternoon start pencilled in for the day-night clash and that the team wouldn’t adjust its preparation until necessary.

Beth Mooney has been passed fit to play after leaving the field during Sunday’s one-day loss to India with hamstring soreness, and spinner Georgia Wareham is recovering well from a quad strain.

All-rounder Annabel Sutherland could be among what Mott said would be “a few” debutantes set to come from the bowling ranks in the 18-player squad.

Perry also now looms as a hugely important part of what will be a largely inexperienced pace attack and is likely to open the bowling despite failing to take a wicket in the one-day series.

Mott said the 30-year-old conceded she was “hasn’t really hit the ground” with her bowling having returned 0-104 in the three games, and was yanked from the attack after just two wild overs in the opening match.

It came after spending 14 days in hard quarantine before the series, which Mott said was always going to have an impact. Perry is also making some technical changes that haven’t been “fully drilled down”.

But the coach was confident Perry, who has taken 31 Test wickets in eight matches since her debut in 2008, would lift for her favourite format.

“Ellyse would be the first to admit she hasn’t really hit the ground with her bowling as yet,” Mott said on Tuesday.

“I think that you need to keep perspective on these things, anytime you put down tools for days and days leading into a key series, you’re going to have time to work through things.

“She’s certainly cognisant of what she needs to do and we have’t had time to drill it down in the nets.

“Ben Sawyer the fast bowling coach has had a lot of conversations with her. They have worked on the alignments, it’s more to the left handers than anything.

“She’s swinging the ball so there’s a lot to like about it. Obviously it’s a Test match, she should be able to get into some big spells.

“She swings the ball up front so I think she’s really looking forward to changing formats, clearly with the bat she’s been a revelation in this format so I think she goes in very excited.”

Mott said losing Haynes for the rest of the series, including three T20s after this week’s game was a huge blow for the 34-year-old and the team ahead of the team’s first Test since 2019.

“She’s devastated. Test matches don’t come around too often. She’s a key member of our squad,” Mott said on Tuesday.

“She wants to hang around until the first day of the Test then she will get home. She’s expecting a child soon (with her partner). It’s bitter sweet. We’ll miss her a lot.”