Injury fuelled Perry's cricket motivation

Ellyse Perry's hamstring injury was the setback that turned into the launch pad for her stellar year.

The 27-year-old won her second Belinda Clark Award on Monday night as the top Australian women's international cricketer.

Three months ago, Perry broke the Australian women's Test record with 213 not out against England – the third-highest score in women's Test history.

The triumph was also far removed from February last year, when Perry missed several weeks because of the hamstring injury, which ruled her out of the Rebel WBBL finals and forced her to watch from the sidelines as the Sixers won their final title, before she also missedthree T20Is and an ODI against New Zealand.

That setback made Perry determined to make the most of her return to the game.

"It's one thing that really puts where you are in perspective," she said of the injury.

"The opportunity to play for your country is incredible and so much fun.

"When it's taken away from you for whatever reason and you really miss it, it gives you great impetus to get back there."

The Australians will head to India next month and Perry knows it will be tough.

"Not being super-experienced in those kinds of conditions, it's going to be a really tough challenge," she said.

Perry sat next to Steve Smith in a media conference after he won the Allan Border Medal.

Smith was asked what advice he would give to Perry about playing in India.

"Embrace the conditions, don't try to fight them - they are what they are," he said.

"Deal with them, adapt to them and have a game plan that's suitable for those conditions."

Belinda Clark Award

Ellyse Perry - 116 votes

Beth Mooney - 78

Megan Schutt - 65

Meg Lanning - 63

Alex Blackwell - 56