Older, wiser Perry refined to near-perfection

Throughout the close to six hours she spent at the crease in Taunton, Ellyse Perry was the picture of unflappable concentration.

Employing her textbook technique to perfection, she clinically brought up her second Test century, a chanceless innings that ended out of the blue on 116 when she mishit a Laura Marsh full toss directly to England captain Heather Knight.

It followed the unbeaten 213 she struck in her previous Test innings, at North Sydney Oval in November 2017, and placed her in elite company as one of only four women to have scored back-to-back Test hundreds, alongside fellow Australian Betty Wilson (1958) and Englishwomen Enid Bakewell (1969) and Claire Taylor (2003).

It also came less than two weeks after she collected the best-ever ODI bowling figures by an Australian woman in the third Ashes ODI in Canterbury when she claimed 7-22 – further proof that, at 28, Perry is still discovering the peak of her all-round cricketing powers.

For anyone who's paid the smallest amount of attention to Australia's superstar allrounder in recent years, they'll likely know the following about her: she's not only incredibly talented, she's also one of the hardest workers in world cricket, be it in the nets or in the gym.

They'll probably also know she's been a dual international – having also played for the Matildas – and that, more often than not, when Australia are racking up wins, it's because Perry is smashing either stumps, boundaries and/or records along the way.

But there is another side to Perry, who on Monday will celebrate the 12th anniversary of her international cricket debut.

And it's one she's increasingly learnt to embrace.

"I certainly feel a little bit older and more experienced now and with that, a bit more laidback with the way I approach (cricket)," Perry said after play ended prematurely due to rain on day two, with just 32 overs possible on a wet Taunton Friday.

"I've always been meticulous and straight with it, and I still am, but I guess I'm a little bit older and dare I say wiser, so I know what works.

"It's hard not to enjoy this period, (it's the) the most amazing period of women's cricket and women's sport we've ever had.

"To be a part of that, I just want to make the most of it and enjoy it for what it is."

After her dismissal on Friday, Perry did one typically Perry thing: started rolling the arm over in preparation for when Australia do inevitably declare.

But her lighthearted side also came out when asked to join teammate Sophie Molineux in a chat about the day's play.

She also found a way to expend any pent-up rain delay energy on the outfield, kicking an Australian Rules football around in a make-shift game with bowling coach Ben Sawyer and teammates Alyssa Healy and Tayla Vlaeminck.

It's that side of Perry which is less commonly seen, between the near-perfect performances on the field and the consummate professional who presents herself to the media after each match-winning feat.

Her spirits were also clearly buoyed by playing the format of the game she – along with many of her teammates – cherishes more than any other.

"I think it's just an absolute pleasure to be out there (playing in a Test) and we just want to make the most of it," Perry said.

"We don't play a lot of Test matches and they always feel like big occasions.

"For me, yesterday was the most spine-tingling cap presentation I've ever witnessed.

"That just brought such a sense of occasion to it, to see another three girls get Baggy Greens, there's only been 176 of them (in total).

"(Playing Tests) have just been one of those things where I've wanted to make the most of it in my career and it's been really nice to have a few opportunities to do that, and it's just fun out there."

Day three of the Taunton Test will begin at 11am on Saturday local time (8pm AEST) and will be broadcast live and free on the Nine Network and ABC Radio.

CommBank Ashes Tour of England

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

England Test squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Kirstie Gordon, Amy Jones, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole (vc), Lauren Winfield, Sarah Taylor

Australia lead England 6-0

First ODI: Australia won by two wickets

Second ODI: Australia won by four wickets

Third ODI:  Australia won by 194 runs

July 18-21: Only Test, The County Ground, Taunton

July 26: First T20, County Ground, Chelmsford

July 28: Second T20, The County Ground, Hove

July 31: Third T20, Bristol County Ground, Bristol