Cricket at the Olympics: Australia’s Ellyse Perry has not ruled out playing in LA 2028

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.”