Women’s Ashes: Ellyse Perry is the greatest female cricketer of all time – Charlotte Edwards

By CricketCountry Staff Updated: Aug 01, 2019, 3:00 PM IST

Record-setting former England captain Charlotte Edwards has no doubt as to who the greatest player in women's cricket is: Ellyse Perry. And not just that, Edwards thinks that the 28-year-old Australia allrounder will get better in the years ahead. The first woman to represent Australia in World Cups in two sports - she played the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2011 - Perry is one of the best female sporting talents to emerge from Australia, having already ticked off several records in cricket. Earlier this month she claimed 7/22, the best figures for Australia in women's ODIs, and this week she became the first cricketer, male or female, to the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in Twenty20 internationals. (READ: Ellyse Perry sets new T20I milestone as Australia stay unbeaten) Edwards played against Perry in 2008, not long after the Australian, at 17, became the youngest from her country to play international cricket. "I loved playing against her and she's definitely improved a lot since I stopped playing," Edwards said. "You knew then she'd become an unbelievable batter, she was mainly a bowler in my career and now we see what an unbelievable allrounder she is and the greatest female player we're ever going to see. "In one skill alone, in terms of bowling or batting she'd be a great. And she's getting better and better with age, she's only 28, it's quite scary really to think what she can achieve in the next few years." [caption id="attachment_871119" align="alignnone" width="680"] Ellyse Perry Ashes 2019

Ellyse Perry's 76* ensured Australia a draw in Taunton. (Image: Twitter/@SouthernStars)[/caption] Perry was named player of the points-based, multi-format Women's Ashes series on Thursday after top-scoring with 378 runs at an average of 94.50 and taking 15 wickets at 12.86 apiece. (READ: Perry stars again as Australia seal draw against England to retain trophy) While England Women's coach Mark Robinson singled out Perry's natural "God-given athletic ability" as a difference between her and the home team, in Edwards' view what set the allrounder apart was her inner drive to excel. "One thing all the great players share is that competitiveness, the desire to want to be better," Edwards said. "That just strikes me every single time I watch her warm up and she treats the last game of the series like the first game of the series. "She wants to win and it's something sometimes you can't coach that. That's something very special about her. She's so competitive and hates getting out and that's a good thing. She values her wicket but equally she knows her game very well."

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