‘I often pinch myself’: Cricket star Ellyse Perry is surprised by her own success
Cricket star Ellyse Perry says she never planned to be a professional cricketer and just fell into it — but she’s certainly enjoyed it.
Confidential
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Fresh from winning her third Belinda Clark Award, cricket star Ellyse Perry admits she’s surprised by her own success.
The prodigious all-rounder told Confidential that while she’s worked hard over the years, she still struggles to comprehend just how far she’s come in her 13-year international cricket career.
“You have to pinch yourself sometimes for the opportunities I’ve been afforded, I’m not really sure why to be honest it’s hard to make much sense of any of it but it’s been very fun,” she said.
“I’m just really fortunate I think because I’ve had so much wonderful support, all the way from my parents to my family and friends but also cricket.”
Over the past year alone, Perry, 29, recorded the best bowling figures for an Aussie woman in a one-day international and scored her second Test century.
She was crowned the ICC player of the year and was recently nominated for a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award for Favourite Sports Star.
“It’s really lovely and flattering to be nominated, really exciting,” she said of the nod.
Perry added that becoming a professional cricketer wasn’t a conscious plan, she just fell into it.
The Sydneysider has also represented Australia in football, racking up 18 caps for the Matildas.
“I just loved sport growing up, I played all kinds of sports,” she said. “I think that’s part and parcel of an Aussie childhood to be fair but yeah cricket was just one of them and it ended up sticking.”
While Perry’s career continues to thrive, her personal life has recently been under scrutiny.
She was forced to deny ugly rumours surrounding her marriage to rugby star Matt Toomua after she attended the Australian Cricket Awards without her wedding ring on.
The couple confirmed they are still together and she told Confidential that she’s adjusted to life in Melbourne after moving to be with Toomua.
“I sort of feel like selfishly I’m getting the best of both parts because I still play a few months of the year in Sydney with the Sixers, so I get to see family and friends in the summer and then explore all of the culture in Melbourne too,” she said.
Perry has also been gearing up for the Women’s T20 World Cup, which started on Friday night.
Tune in to the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards on March 24 at 5:30pm on Foxtel (Channel 701).
Originally published as ‘I often pinch myself’: Cricket star Ellyse Perry is surprised by her own success
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