Perry out to farewell NSW on winning note

Ellyse Perry will be out to farewell New South Wales on a winning note when the Breakers take on Queensland in Saturday’s Women’s National Cricket League final.

Perry has committed to playing for Victoria for the 2019-20 edition of the domestic 50-over competition, part of a move to Melbourne with husband and Australian rugby union player Matt Toomua, who has signed to play for Super Rugby side the Melbourne Rebels.

It means this weekend’s decider at North Sydney Oval – a favourite venue of Perry’s, where she’s scored an Ashes double century and a WBBL ton – could be her last in the sky blue.

It’s the end of an era for the 28-year-old allrounder, who made her debut for the Breakers aged 17 in 2007.

In her 72 matches since, Perry has played a hand in winning 10 WNCL titles for her home state and been an integral part in one of Australian sport’s great dynasties. Since the formation of the WNCL, the Breakers have played in all 22 finals, winning 19, with this weekend’s game to be their 23rd straight appearance in the tournament decider.

After making her debut as a tearaway quick, her improvements with the bat have been reflected in her performances for the Breakers: in 11 seasons she’s scored 1683 runs including three centuries, with a high score of 127no, and currently averages 43.15 in WNCL matches.

With the ball she’s been equally as damaging, taking 111 wickets at 18.91, with a best of 5-11.

“She’s done a lot for this state,” Breakers fast bowler Lauren Cheatle said on Wednesday.

“The last couple of years she’s been in some fantastic form and we’d really like to send her off with a win.

“Obviously we don’t want her to go, but that’s the decision she’s made so we’re really supportive of that and hopefully we can send her away with a win.”

Next summer, Perry’s move south will see Victoria field one of the competition’s most imposing line-ups, joining a group that already boasts national captain Meg Lanning alongside fellow internationals Elyse Villani, Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham and Tayla Vlaeminck.

But for now, Perry’s focus will be on claiming WNCL medal No.10 with the Breakers.

When she announced her decision to make the move to Victoria last year, she explained it was for non-cricketing reasons.

"At the end of the day, it was really very much a personal decision for family life. The opportunity to play at NSW for the last decade or so has been an absolute honour," Perry told Fairfax last year.

"Going back before that, playing all my junior cricket for NSW and their pathway programs, I was lucky to do that.

“I am very much a NSW girl. It is definitely sad but, at the same time, having played for a fairly long period now, it's kind of invigorating to have a new opportunity and experience in a different state."