Healy ponders life without Perry

NSW Breakers captain Alyssa Healy says Ellyse Perry's move to Victoria in 2019 is a "huge loss" but completely understands why the star allrounder made the decision to head south of the border.

Perry is set to move to Melbourne next year to be with husband and Australian rugby union player Matt Toomua, who has signed to play for Super Rugby side the Melbourne Rebels.

Perry and Healy have been joined at the hip throughout their cricket lives, from junior teams right through the Australian women's national side.

So it comes as no surprise that Healy was a little sad when Perry told her the news, but being married to a professional athlete herself in Australia spearhead Mitch Starc, she fully understands her friend's decision.

"It's a huge loss," Healy told cricket.com.au, who spent last night sleeping under the stars in the middle of the SCG to raise funds and awareness for youth homelessness as part of The Chappell Foundation's Sports Stars Sleepout initiative.

"I think I've played all my cricket with 'Pez' across the years.

"For us to line up against one another in the future will be pretty new to the both of us but at the same time we completely understand the decision that she's made.

"For her and Matt to be apart for so long already with him playing rugby in England takes a big toll on you individually and obviously your relationship as well.

"For her to make that decision is a huge call and one that we support 100 per cent and hopefully she enjoys life down in Melbourne and playing in different colours."

Perry, who made her debut with NSW at the age of 17 in 2007, is contracted to the Breakers for the coming season and has two years left on her contract with the Sydney Sixers in the Rebel WBBL.

The 27-year-old said the move was purely personal.

"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.

"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."

Healy, like most wicketkeepers, doesn't mind chirping away from behind the stumps, and next summer it could be Perry who is on the receiving end for the first time.

"She's always said that she never wanted to play against me because of my nature behind the stumps, so I think it'll be interesting," Healy said.

"I don't think I'll go too hard at her but we've got a lot of stories over the years of playing and touring together, so I'm sure one or two of them might come out."

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