Perry performance a timely reminder of short-form class

Reports of the demise of Ellyse Perry have been greatly exaggerated, if the veteran allrounder's display with bat and ball Sunday’s second Ashes ODI are anything to go by.

Three weeks after being omitted from Australia's best T20 side, and having struggled to consistently make an impact with the ball across various competitions and formats since her serious hamstring injury of 2020, Perry grabbed 3-12 and backed up with a game-high 40 with the bat at her adopted home of Junction Oval.

Her seven superb overs helped bowl England out for 129 and was her best display in the one-day format since she took 7-24 in Canterbury during the 2019 Ashes.

"(It was) one of her best," Mott told cricket.com.au of Perry's all-round performance.

"She used the bouncer well, hit a hard length, a lot of those things that (assistant coach) Ben Sawyer has talked about for our entire group.

"Then batting wise, (she hit) eight off two balls to set the scene for a great innings.

"It's just disappointing she got run out, because I don't think they were going to get her out any other way … I think she'll take a lot out of that performance."

The 31-year-old reprised what had for many years been her go-to role with the new ball alongside Megan Schutt, after teenage quick Darcie Brown sat out the game due to soreness.

With Australia indicating they will take a careful approach to 18-year-old Brown's workloads during a demanding ODI World Cup campaign, and with Tayla Vlaeminck sidelined with injury, Perry's ability to perform in the powerplay will be crucial throughout the upcoming tournament in New Zealand.

"A lot was made about her not playing the T20s," Mott said. "But we always had in the back of our minds that she is an outstanding Test player and getting some overs in and having the ability to maybe not get it right (all the time), but still sustain that pressure, was something that she's been craving.

"People forget it was not that long ago, she had a pretty serious injury and all the time she's getting under her belt, she is getting better and better.

"And I think more than anything, her leadership around the group has gone to another level as well. That was evident in the Test match.

"I know Meg spoke really highly of her input, especially when we were under the pump, so I think she's in a really good headspace."

Perry's 40 from 65 deliveries only ended when she was run out trying to steal a tight single with Australia close to victory, and was a welcome period in the middle following her first-ball dismissal on Thursday in Canberra.

It was also her second-highest ODI knock since returning from the hamstring injury. Regaining consistency in the format – with bat and ball – has proved a challenge since her international return in April last year, with Australia playing just six one-dayers in 2021.

Perry, who batted five times and bowled just 20 wicketless overs across those matches against New Zealand and India, noted after Sunday's match that the one-off Ashes Test at Manuka, where she bowled 25.5 overs across two innings, had helped her regain rhythm and consistency.

"I always work really closely with Benny, our pace coach, and between game days it's nice to just tinker with things and make sure that I'm staying on top of some technique points," Perry added.

"It's just consistently playing cricket and being out in the middle and getting a feel for it, which has been really nice."

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes v England

Australia Ashes squad: Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Stella Campbell, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes (vc), Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland

England Ashes squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver (vc), Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt

Australia lead the multi-format series 8-4

First T20: Australia won by nine wickets

Second T20: No Result

Third T20: Match Abandoned without a ball bowled

Test match: Match Drawn

First ODI: Australia won by 27 runs

Feb 6: Second ODI, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT

Feb 8: Third ODI, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT