Perry returns to batting engine room

Australia coach Matthew Mott is tipping star allrounder Ellyse Perry to make the most of having a greater opportunity with the bat in the upcoming Commonwealth Bank ODI series against New Zealand.

Despite being one of the best batters in the game, Perry was listed at No.7 and barely called upon with the blade during her team’s successful T20 World Cup campaign in the Caribbean last November.

But she’s long been cemented at No.4 in ODI cricket and will be looking to take full toll against the White Ferns as she moves back up the order for Australia’s first series since their Cup triumph.

The 28-year-old is coming off a record-breaking season for the Sydney Sixers in the Rebel WBBL where she struck 777 runs at 86.33, while her record in 50-over cricket at international level is outstanding.

“She’s a lock in at No.4 for us and has been in one-day cricket for a long time,” Mott said in Perth on Wednesday as his team prepared for Friday’s opening ODI at the WACA Ground.

“I think she scored at one stage 19 fifties out of 21 innings, so (she’s got) amazing consistency.”

Perry averages 49.63 in ODI cricket with 25 half-centuries and sits second in the ICC’s batting rankings in the format.

She made her debut in 2007 – as a teenaged fast bowler – and has since evolved into one of the world’s best with the willow, with all but one of those half-centuries coming since January 2014.

Given Perry’s form opening in the Big Bash – which not only saw her score a record number of runs for a single season, but also elevate her strike rate from 98.57 last summer to 121.21 - there’s likely never been a better opportunity for her to finally score an elusive maiden ODI ton.

Currently, Perry’s only international century is the double ton she posted in the day-night Ashes Test at North Sydney Oval in late 2017, while she’s posted unbeaten scores in the nineties three times in ODI cricket.

“She really revels in this format and I think she’s evolved her T20 game as well,” Mott said.

“The Big Bash was exciting to watch, just her taking her game to another level. And she’s been a real leader amongst our group in T20 and you’ll see her at her best here.

“I think this wicket will really suit her with bat and ball.”

Speaking to Direct Hit ahead of the ODI series, Australia captain Meg Lanning said she was looking forward to seeing what Perry could produce off the back of her Big Bash heroics.

“I think we’ve got a lot of our top seven in form,” Lanning said.

“The consistency was probably the most impressive thing (during the WBBL). She just came out game after game and dominated attacks.

“She's been working really hard on her strike rate over the last couple of years and it was great to see her really dominate attacks.

“She's got all the shots and she hits the ball further than anyone else in the game. It’s great to see her really pushing those boundaries and taking the game on.

“It’s exciting for her and for Australian cricket to have her really take her game to the next level … because she's a very dangerous player.”

The first ODI between Australia and New Zealand gets underway at 10.20am local time (1.20pm AEDT) on Friday.

The match will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and the Seven Network and can be live streamed via Kayo, with news, scores and highlights on cricket.com.au and the CA Live App.

CommBank ODIs v NZ 

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Georgia Wareham

New Zealand squad: Amy Satterthwaite (c), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Katie Perkins, Anna Peterson, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

February 22: First ODI, WACA Ground, Perth

February 24: Second ODI, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

March 3: Third ODI, Junction Oval, Melbourne