Australia star Perry signs up for English cricket's Hundred

Dunya News

Ellyse Perry has signed up to play in the inaugural edition of English cricket's Hundred.

LONDON (AFP) - Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry has signed up to play in the inaugural edition of English cricket s Hundred -- a major coup for the new 100-balls-per-side competition.

Perry, recently named the International Cricket Council s women s player of the decade, has agreed to join the Birmingham Phoenix.

The 30-year-old, currently top of the one-day international all-rounder rankings, will join a Phoenix side that also features New Zealand s Sophie Devine, who is at the summit of the corresponding T20 rankings.

Perry is eager to play in The Hundred, which features eight franchises, all with men s and women s teams.

"I can t wait to come over to the UK and get involved in The Hundred this summer," she said on Thursday.

"It s fantastic to see how it s put women s cricket in the spotlight and attracted so many of the world s top players to come and play in it.

"With 100 balls per side it s going to be really exciting to play in and I m looking forward to helping introduce a new generation to cricket and hopefully inspiring them to pick up a bat and ball themselves."

Phoenix coach Ben Sawyer said: "Ellyse is a world-class cricketer who would improve any team and we are thrilled that she will be turning out for us at Birmingham Phoenix this summer."