Perry up for the challenge

Australia face a great challenge to keep their Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes hopes alive by winning Thursday's second one-dayer against England, allrounder Ellyse Perry says.

The home side are in a desperate situation, needing to win the next two one-dayers and the three T20 clashes in order to regain the Ashes.

Perry, who hit an unbeaten 65 in Australia's seven-wicket loss at the MCG on Sunday, says Australia's not done yet.

"It is a great challenge. As a group and as a team, it's the best way to test yourself," Perry said on Wednesday.

"For all intents and purposes too, we really don't have too much to lose.

"It's a really fantastic opportunity for all of us to try to achieve something and really challenge ourselves to play the cricket we know we're capable of playing.

"We haven't quite managed to win all the critical moments in the matches that we've played.

"We've let things slip a little bit when we've really needed to hammer home a point.

"Certainly in this match it's about doing those things well when it really counts."

Game two is at the MCG on Thursday, followed by the final one-day match in Hobart on January 26.

England also won the one-off Test match in Perth in the multi-format series.

Pace bowler Perry (0-48 off nine overs) was unable to make a breakthrough in game one at the MCG after taking 3-41 and 5-38 in the Perth Test.

The allrounder has managed to carry her batting form of 71 and 31 in the Test match into the one-day format, but bowling has been more of a challenge.

"I probably don't feel like I've bowled as well as I would have liked to," Perry said.

"One game you feel really great and it's coming out well and then the next game it's a little bit more of a challenge."