Australian star Ellyse Perry urges positive cricket from battling batters to amp up Ashes pressure on England

Australia has arguably got out of jail, as England crumbled, in the opening two matches of the Ashes and there’s one thing superstar Ellyse Perry is urging her teammates to do in order to keep the pressure up.

Some of Australia’s battling middle order may be under the pump heading into Friday’s third Ashes one-day game in Hobart but veteran star Ellyse Perry says chasing a “positive” style of play will remain the objective as well as turning up the pressure dial on England with retaining the trophy in touching distance.

Australia’s bowlers came to the rescue in Tuesday’s gripping second-match, rolling England for just 159 after the home team was bowled out for only 180, their lowest total ODI total in Australia since 2009.

A middle-order collapse, losing 4-7, put batters including vice-captain Tahlia McGrath, who only made two in the first match, as well as Beth Mooney, who is averaging only 17 across her past eight ODI games, in the gun.

Tahlia McGrath is in a form slump. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

There was no talk of panicked changes for the Bellerive Oval clash, although the batters have been urged to “adapt more quickly” to conditions, having met a spinning wicket in Melbourne unlike any of nine previous pitches they had played on at the Junction Oval.

Prior to the Ashes, Australia monstered both Indian and New Zealand attacks, posting a massive 8-371 in one game with three other scores of 290 or more in the five matches.

Three players, including Perry, scored hundreds, with Annabel Sutherland making two and newcomer Georgia Voll, who is now waiting in the wings, hit triple-figures in just her second international game.

It shows the runs are there and Perry urged her teammates to find them and keep their foot on England, already 4-0 down in the multi-format series.

“We’ll reflect on the last couple of games, but for us, there’s been a style of play that we’ve been chasing the last little bit (and) we’ve spoken at length about that,” Perry said.

“There’s been a real focus on the way we want to play, regardless of who we are playing.

“Friday is another opportunity to try and put a really good marker out there and play the roles individually and then as a team.”

A half century, brought up in style!

Ellyse Perry's fifth four (+ two sixes along the way) brings up the milestone #Ashespic.twitter.com/rnolwlCqZZ

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 14, 2025

Perry, who blasted 60 as the mainstay of the Australian innings in the 21-run win in the second game, said batting had been harder in both Melbourne and the opening game at North Sydney Oval, but “positive cricket” would be the demand.

“The last couple of matches, both wickets we’ve played on have been quite conducive to spin and haven’t been super easy,” Perry said after arriving in Hobart on Wednesday.

“(But) there was probably an opportunity in both of those innings to be more positive at different times and put some pressure back on England.

“We’ve spoken about that, and this Friday is a great opportunity to come out and play as positively as we can.

“It’s our last 50-over game in this multi format series (and) we want to put together a complete game.

“We’ll have to have a look at the wicket, but I think (Bellerive) lends itself to some really positive cricket.”

The match is Australia’s first women’s ODI at Bellerive Oval since 2016.

Originally published as Australian star Ellyse Perry urges positive cricket from battling batters to amp up Ashes pressure on England