Ellyse Perry falls one run short of a third Test century against England

Ellyse Perry showed why she’s one of Australia’s greatest-ever cricketers in an awesome Ashes display.

A circumspect Ellyse Perry says 100 is just “a number” but conceded it was a “bummer” to fall agonisingly short of another Test century as a dominant Ashes day for Australia ended with a DRS drama.

Perry was out for 99, one run short of what would have been a third Test hundred as the Aussies piled on 7-327 on day one of the Women‘s Ashes at Trent Bridge.

The superstar all-rounder still took her Test batting average above 77 and didn’t want to be disappointed after her team put itself in a strong position despite a third consecutive Test duck for captain Alyssa Healy.

“So that ball just had my measure, which is totally fine. It’s a number and one that we talk about a lot in cricket, but the whole experience out there today was so much fun,” Perry said at stumps.

“I’ve loved every opportunity. Sometimes things just go that way. It’s hard to be disappointed.”

“It was nice to contribute”It was nice to be a part of a few really good partnerships, particularly that one with TMac (Tahlia McGrath).

“It‘s just like any other time to get out. It’s a bit of a bummer, but gosh, the game definitely goes on, and life goes on for sure.”

Ellyse Perry reacts after being dismissed for 99. Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Perry blasted 15 boundaries in her 153-ball knock under her infamous faded helmet after walking to the crease at 1-35 when first-gamer Phoebe Litchfield was out LBW for 23, with replays showing the ball was missing the stumps.

Litchfield didn’t go up for a review, but England did late in the day in a moment that raised eyebrows

Australia’s Jess Jonassen was given out despite England taking about 20 seconds to ask for a review, five seconds more than the allowed time.

After an appeal for a catch was turned down by on-field umpire Anna Harris, it took several seconds for the DRS countdown timer to appear on the Trent Bridge big screen.

Alyssa Healy is bowled for a duck. Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Replays of the incident show it took about 20 seconds for England to decide to for a review, but Perry, who fell after Jonassen in a late collapse of 3-12, said the Aussies had no issue with the review.

“From a player perspective, whether it is England or us, that is the time that was given and put up on the screen,” Perry said.

“How long that took to come up, I am not sure. It’s something perhaps the officials can review.

“But from a playing perspective, you just have to adapt to whatever is out there and I think there were five seconds left on the clock.”

Annabel Sutherland was unbeaten on 39 at stumps with Alan King on seven in the opening match of the seven-game Ashes series.