Perry makes successful return

Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars allrounder Ellyse Perry made sure the West Indies’ first match on Australian soil outside of a World Cup wasn’t a successful one, captaining a Cricket Australia XI to a nine-wicket victory in their Twenty20 clash in Canberra.

Konica Minolta Queensland Fire opener Beth Mooney and regular Southern Star Jess Cameron chased down the West Indies’ meagre total of 104 inside of 17 overs while Lend Lease Breakers quick Kara Sutherland proved the pick of the CA XI bowlers with 2-17 off three overs.

After missing all but three T20Is against Pakistan earlier this year with a knee injury, and failing to bowl in any of those matches, Perry completed three successful overs with the ball to finish with 1-14.

“I’ve played one or two games now bowling off the full run up,” Perry told cricket.com.au ahead of the match, “(and) I’ve been feeling pretty good which is nice.

“Obviously the two games this week are another opportunity to get a few more overs under my belt.

“Things seem to be coming along pretty well.

“I think the more games you play leading into a series, the better the preparation.

“I think it’s probably ideal having that round of national league before going into camp and then having a few more days to prepare the squad before heading into the first match.”

Despite the added responsibility of captaining the side, Perry said she was excited by the opportunity the top job affords.

“I’m really looking forward to the experience actually,” she said.

“I haven’t done too much in the way of captaincy for the last five or six years so I think it will probably be a fun little couple of games to go out and do that.

“Looking at the group of players that we’ve got too, it will be a really enjoyable team to captain and it’s a great opportunity for a lot of those girls to play against a quality international side and gain a little more experience at that level.

“Obviously, I play with some of the girls at a state level.

“(With) someone like Kara Sutherland, who’s played a little bit of underage international cricket but has never played for the international side, the West Indies (series) will help in her development and that goes with a lot of the girls in the team.”

The Southern Stars have met the world number three West Indies on just nine occasions since 1993 (five ODIs and four T20s), and none of those fixtures have occurred outside of ICC events.

But having faced off against the West Indies in the 2013 Women’s Cricket World Cup final and the 2012 and 2014 World Twenty20 semi-finals, Perry is well aware of the unique challenge the Caribbean side will present for the Australians.

“I’ve played them quite a bit over the last few years,” Perry said.

“They’re a really different side to play compared to other cricket teams because they’re so athletic and powerful and play a very dominant style of cricket that’s quite imposing.

“I think from that point of view it will be a really great challenge for everyone in the CA XI and then obviously moving forward to the international series with the Southern Stars.

“They have some truly world-class players in their side.

“What I think has been most remarkable about their side is how much they’ve continued to improve over the last few years.

“It’s going to be really tough, and I think with the stage we’re playing on too – playing a few curtain raisers to the men’s matches over the summer (it) is really great. It’s an exciting series.”

Keep an eye on cricket.com.au for live coverage of the Commonwealth Bank Women’s International Series against the West Indies, including scores, reports and highlights from the four T20s and four ODIs.