WBBL: Ellyse Perry mulls switch from Sydney Sixers to Melbourne
She’s the biggest star in women’s cricket, but Ellyse Perry could be set to walk out on her beloved Sydney Sixers.
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Sydney Sixers captain Ellyse Perry has refused to rule out the possibility of a shock switch to Melbourne to play Big Bash cricket next summer.
Perry relocated to Victoria earlier this year to be with her husband, Wallabies star, Matt To’omua, and is now based south of the border — only moving back to Sydney for the duration of the WBBL season, where she is in the final year of her current deal.
The 28-year-old superstar has been described as the creator and custodian of the Sixers’ much-envied winning culture, however, she is keen to get an understanding of what her hectic jetsetting lifestyle looks like in 2020 before committing to a new term with her beloved Sixers.
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Perry will lead the Sixers into battle for tonight’s WBBL season opener against the Sydney Thunder, which will be beamed live around the country on prime time television.
As the world’s No.1 player, Perry is the face of the Sixers, but admits she’s unsure about her long-term future.
“Honestly speaking I don’t really know. I absolutely love playing here and I think having been a part of it from the start … you feel a part of the fabric and they’re family,” Perry told The Daily Telegraph.
“Having got to work with Ben Sawyer (Sixers coach) since the inception of the competition and what he’s built for this team and the club, and then people like Jodie Hawkins (Sixers General Manager), who has been there since the start as well.
“It’s just not really knowing where life is going to be next year. I suppose I don’t want to do the wrong thing by the club in terms of making a commitment I can’t keep, and vice versa I guess.
“… I don’t really know to be honest. I’m certainly here this season and see how it goes from there.”
Fellow Australian star Alyssa Healy says the captain-coach combination Perry has built with Sawyer at the Sixers has been the making of the club.
But Perry is wrestling with the fact her commitments with Australia and To’omua’s rugby career often have them at opposite points of the globe — and the summer could be one time when they’re both in Melbourne.
Perry stunned NSW Cricket last year when she announced she was leaving for Victoria, and vice-captain Healy — who also knows what it’s like to be away from her partner — is hoping lightning doesn’t strike twice.
“I hope so. This WBBL side is really her and Ben Sawyer’s baby. They’ve created this culture and created this successful team so it’d be a real shame to see her walk away from that,” said Healy.
“It’d surprise me if she did but I didn’t think she’d go to Victoria either.
“Like I said, this has been their little project. They talk about it all the time and are really passionate about the Sixers, so I hope she stays here.
“I’ve enjoyed playing my whole career with Pez and while I look forward to playing against her when the time comes (in the WNCL), I would definitely prefer being on her side.”
Perry will be cheering the Wallabies on in their World Cup quarter-final clash against England, and wouldn’t completely close the door on an emergency mid-WBBL dash to Japan should To’omua’s side shock the world and make the final.