Ellyse Perry set to play for Victoria next year
The Australia allrounder leaves New South Wales with husband Matt Toomua signing on to play Rugby for the Melbourne Rebels
ESPNcricinfo staff
06-Aug-2018
Ellyse Perry goes up in appeal • Getty Images
Australia allrounder Ellyse Perry has confirmed she will leave her home team New South Wales to play state cricket for Victoria next year.
Perry, who has been with the NSW side since 2007, will move to Melbourne at the end of the 2018-19 season with her husband Matt Toomua, a rugby player who has signed on to play for the Melbourne Rebels.
"At the end of the day, it was really very much a personal decision for family life. The opportunity to play at NSW for the last decade or so has been an absolute honour," Perry told The Age.
"Going back before that, playing all my junior cricket for NSW and their pathway programs, I was lucky to do that. I am very much an NSW girl. It is definitely sad but, at the same time, having played for a fairly long period now, it's kind of invigorating to have a new opportunity and experience in a different state."
Perry still has two more years left on her contract with the NSW-based BBL franchise, the Sydney Sixers, and is keen to see that through.
"A lot is changing because from next season the WBBL is moving to October-November," she said. "I think that means that states that have two teams in the competition ... whether or not you do your pre-season with the Big Bash team instead of your state program, there are quite a few unknowns. I haven't thought about that.
"I'll wait and see how that looks but I have a lot of very strong ties to the Sixers and, particularly, the coach, Ben Sawyer, who I loved working with. I started with the Sixers in the first season, I feel very loyal to him as well and owe him a lot. There are a lot of things to consider. I probably wouldn't think about it until I am off contract."
Perry had also opted not to return for the ongoing third season of the Kia Super League in England in order to spend some time at home, ahead of a packed summer playing cricket. Australia are scheduled to play a three-match T20I series against New Zealand and a series against Pakistan in the UAE before heading to the Caribbean in November for the World T20.