Perry rewarded for outstanding WBBL|04

At times this Rebel WBBL season, it seemed the only thing as inevitable Ellyse Perry winning Player of the Tournament would be that she’d receive the gong alongside another premiership medallion.

That wasn’t to be when her Sydney Sixers were upset by the Brisbane Heat’s in Saturday’s Rebel WBBL final at Drummoyne Oval, and Perry admitted afterwards the gloss came off the individual award in light of her team’s defeat.

But there’s no denying the numbers, which show Perry had by far the greatest single WBBL season across the tournament’s four editions to date.

She ended the season with 777 runs at 86.33, with two centuries and six half-centuries to her name, 221 runs clear of her nearest rival.

Add to that her 10 wickets and it was a near perfect season for Perry, who smashed the previous record for most runs in a WBBL season, the 560 scored by Australian captain Meg Lanning in WBBL|01.

Perry claimed the award with 38 votes, finishing eight ahead of Adelaide Strikers’ international recruit Sophie Devine (30 votes), and big-hitting Brisbane Heat allrounder Grace Harris (25 votes).

It’s the first time Perry has won the award, with Lanning, Beth Mooney and Amy Satterthwaite the previous winners.

“To be honest, I don’t want to be rude but it doesn’t mean a lot,” a deflated Perry noted after the Heat claimed a thrilling three-wicket win.

“It’s nice to have the acknowledgement but at the end of the day I”d much prefer to have one of those champion hats and to lift the trophy again this year.

“It’s such a collective effort and the sense of connection between everyone in this group and support staff, we’ve built this from the ground up.

“You get used to winning so it sucks when you don’t, but it’s an added challenge for us next year.”

But Perry will have less than one week to revel in her latest achievements before she switches her magenta kit for the pale blue and takes the field for the NSW Breakers next weekend in the final round of the 50-over Women’s National Cricket League.

And in the not-too-distant future, the 28-year-old will be back in the green and gold for the three-match Commonwealth Bank ODI series against New Zealand, beginning in Perth on February 22.

Perry, who bats at No.4 in the Australian ODI XI, has yet to score a one-day century but has arguably never been better placed to do so, given her form and the increased rate at which she scored her runs in WBBL|04.

Australia coach Matthew Mott is one who’s looking forward to seeing what Perry can produce against the White Ferns, with games to also be played at Adelaide’s Karen Rolton Oval and Melbourne’s Junction Oval.

“She’s in amazing form, she’s been the most consistent run scorer throughout the tournament.

“All our batters are in great form at the moment and that augers well for a good series.

“We’ll need to be (in form) against the Kiwis because their players are in pretty good form in the WBBL as well.”

But first, Perry’s focus will be on the Breakers, who’ve claimed 19 of 22 WNCL titles since the league was founded and who currently sit third on the table.

With the allrounder already committed to playing for Victoria next summer, she’ll be eager to end her time as a Breaker with yet another piece of silverware. 

WBBL Player of the Tournament

1. Ellyse Perry (Sydney Sixers) – 38 votes

2. Sophie Devine (Adelaide Strikers) – 30 

3. Grace Harris (Brisbane Heat) – 25 

4. Meg Lanning (Perth Scorchers) – 23

Sophie Molineux (Melbourne Renegades) – 23 

Sammy-Jo Johnson (Brisbane Heat) – 23 

5. Elyse Villani (Perth Scorchers) – 22 votes