Ellyse Perry nails the balancing act with an eye on the Australian summer

Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry is completely focused on the ongoing ODI series against West Indies after her comeback. The 32-year-old made a return in Melbourne on Tuesday and started bowling for the first time after suffering a knee injury at the end of her side's one-day tour of Ireland in July 2023.

Perry confirmed she will not be bowling and will remain a specialist batter in the remaining games against West Indies. However, she is hopeful that she will be back fully fit and will try to contribute her side with the ball rest of the summer.

"I've really enjoyed working with Scott Prestwidge, our bowling coach, and we were doing some really great stuff over in England in the nets, so it was a bit of a bummer to have to cut that over the last couple of months to rehab my knee. To get out back there with Scottie was really fun today. I'm really looking forward to the rest of summer and hopefully being able to contribute with the ball," Perry was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au

After 128 years, cricket is about to make its Olympic comeback in the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Perry is enthusiastic about what an Olympic comeback could bring for the sport, believing it would be as big as any ICC World Cup, though, having participated in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last year.

"I'd love to still be contributing and around the group if I'm still enjoying it, and if I'm good enough to be making contributions, but I probably haven't pinned my sights on anything just yet (so) we'll see. I'd imagine it'd be hugely important to every team involved … it's an amazing announcement for the sport and a great new opportunity and an amazing competition. To be a part of that – we had the experience with the Comm Games really recently and that was a fabulous event to be a part of," she added.