Ellyse Perry on how her marriage helped her career

Ellyse Perry doesn’t like to think of herself as the world’s best female cricket player – even though she is. But in a revealing interview she has detailed the role Wallabies star Matt To’omua has played in her career.

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Grateful, ambitious and always chasing Pez-fection.

Superstar cricketer Ellyse Perry has revealed a key inspiration behind her emergence as Australia’s best all-rounder.

Perry partly credited her recent stunning dominance to Wallabies husband Matt To’omua.

The highly private Perry, who rarely discusses her inner circle, credits Matt for helping her settle into public life as a “role model” – something which initially did not feel comfortable. “Sometimes I need people around me to remind me, to keep enjoying the small things,” she said.

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Ellyse Perry and husband Matt To’omua. Picture: Supplied.

“No one has done this for me more than my husband Matt. It’s no coincidence that I’ve become more successful in sport since I met him.

“He has had these incredible experiences in his own career. And I feel more settled … there’s this lovely shared sense of what we want to achieve together.

“I still work hard, but I now place greater value on the enjoyment factor, letting go of the things.

“Ironic isn’t it, that caring a little less, and being more relaxed and trusting of my ability, has helped me improve.”

Ellyse Perry is often described as the world’s best female player. Picture: Body and Soul

The 28-year-old currently boasts the most convincing resume in women’s international cricket.

Perry – who was the first player, male or female, to reach 1000 T20 international runs and 100 wickets – shuns being described the world’s best female player.

Despite being the world’s best female player.

Perfection is impossible without humility and Perry, while striving for the first, has the second in abundance.

Perry credits her success to her marriage to Matt To’omua.

Perry says she has become more successful since she met her husband. Picture: Matt King

While her dominance has followed the same trajectory as the professionalism of the women’s game, Perry is uncomfortable analysing her own talent.

That’s for others to judge.

Instead she would rather ruminate on the growth of women’s sport – and in particular, her code – and her own sporting role models.

While Olympian Susie O’Neill was a sporting idol growing up, Perry nominated Tia Clair-Toomey as “phenomenal”.

Perry cites Tia-Clair Toomey as her own role model.

Perry said she admired the crossfit champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist in weightlifting for her “crazy kind of grit”.

“I can’t think of a better female athlete in terms of power and speed, strength and endurance. Sheer single-mindedness and determination. I’ve watched her compete a couple of times and she is truly phenomenal.”

They say perspective is everything and it is also the name of Perry’s book. Perspective, published by HarperCollins, is available from Monday.

Ellyse Perry’s new book comes out on Monday. Picture: Toby Zerna

“At the very least I hope people enjoy it … I’ve been so fortunate with all the incredible help and support I’ve had from so many people,” Perry said.

“I feel so much gratitude to play a sport I love professionally … but aside from that, like most people, I am just trying to figure out the world.”

Originally published as Ellyse Perry on how her marriage helped her career