Perry injury won't derail summer: Mott

Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars coach Matthew Mott is optimistic he'll have Ellyse Perry at his full disposal with both bat and ball this summer as the allrounder manages a rare knee injury.

Perry returned for the Lendlease NSW Breakers with a bang last weekend after being rested for their first three Women's National Cricket League matches, when an ongoing bursa issue wasn't enough to stop her plundering 103 runs off 120 balls against Western Australia in Blacktown.

The allrounder played as a batter only at the weekend, but Mott expects Perry will be back bowling in time for the Governor-General's XI match – in which she'll captain the GG’s XI – against South Africa in Sydney on November 13.

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The first of Australia's five ODIs against the Proteas will then be played at Manuka Oval in Canberra on November 18.

"It's been a tricky one, but Kate Mahony our physio has been excellent with the work she's done along with the NSW staff," Mott told cricket.com.au. "It's not something the physios and experts have seen a lot of, and the bursa issue she's got is not actually painful for her, but her knee's swollen up quite a bit.

"She's extremely diligent with her rehab and she's doing everything she can to make sure she's right.

"At the moment it’s a day-by-day, week-by-week process but it's something we hope settles sooner than later. It's really more of an inconvenience for her than anything but it's something we want to knock on the head."

Of the current crop of Australian players, Perry is the Southern Stars' leading ODI wicket-taker with 105 scalps from 77 matches. She sits 10th on the list of overall one-day wicket-takers and has the opportunity to move up the ranks – even into the top five – with a strong series against the Proteas.

While Mott expects to have the best of Perry's dual powers against the Proteas, Australia won't take any risks with the allrounder given the packed summer ahead for the Southern Stars players.

However, he believes Australia have the bowling firepower to cover her absence if necessary.

"We've got good options there. Holly Ferling enjoying her opportunities (in Sri Lanka) and got a good crack with the new ball, while Rene Farrell came in and did well when she got her opportunity.

"Megan Schutt's been in really good form for about six to eight months.

"All round I'm pretty comfortable with our bowling options."

Last week, Perry – who celebrated her 26th birthday today – said she hoped to be involved with as much cricket as possible over the summer, but conceded the growth of the women's game, which sees its elite players busier than ever, meant workload management might become as much part and parcel of the sport as it is for Australia's male players.

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The five-match ODI series against South Africa will be followed by the second edition of the Rebel Women's Big Bash League – where Perry's Sydney Sixers will play at least 14 matches in December and January – before Australia take on New Zealand in a three-match T20 series in February, ahead of a three-ODI return bout across the Tasman.

"It's probably a consideration that the physios and doctors and coach are going to have to take into account with all the players now," Perry said.