Perry won't rule out bid to play in 2028 Olympics

Ellyse Perry is captaining Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred

Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry says she has not ruled out an attempt at playing in the 2028 Olympics, when cricket makes a return to the Games after a 128-year absence.

Perry, one of the greatest female players of all-time, will be 37 when T20 cricket is included in Los Angeles in four years.

“I don’t think I’m the kind of person that wants to pin a date on a retirement. I’ve never looked at it like that,” said Perry, currently captaining Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred.

“If I’m still there and available and good enough, I’d like to be there.”

Perry has won of all the game’s major titles as part of the all-conquering Australia team. She was in the squad that won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022, but did not play a game as she was recovering from a back injury.

“I haven’t set a target on playing at the Olympics, but if I’m still around and good enough, I’d absolutely love to be there,” she told BBC Sport.

“It’s an awesome thing for the game, and an amazing opportunity to continue to grow it.”

Perry was originally due to lead Phoenix last season but missed the entire campaign with a knee injury.

In her absence, the Edgbaston-based side failed to win any of their eight matches and have started this year’s campaign with defeats by London Spirit and Oval Invincibles.

Their next game is against Trent Rockets in Nottingham on Wednesday.

“Things ebb and a flow in franchise cricket,” said Perry. “We still have an awesome opportunity to go out there, do everything we can to play entertaining and exciting cricket.

“There’s a really nice feeling, not just amongst our group but the whole competition. It’s been a really successful one for the English cricket landscape.”

Australia will defend the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in October, then will meet England in the Ashes on home soil in the early part of next year.

The last Ashes, a multi-format series in the UK in 2023, was drawn 8-8, allowing Australia to retain the urn. Since then, England have gone unbeaten in this year’s home series against Pakistan and New Zealand.

“England have been in tremendous form and are playing some great cricket,” said Perry. “Really excitingly there are a great number of younger players coming through on the domestic scene here.

“I don’t think there’s ever been a huge gap between England and Australia. The Australian team have had the knack of winning the big moments. All sides are playing really consistently now and have a really good handle of the way they want to play.”