Ellyse Perry says the Australia’s poor record against England will be fuelling their effort to reclaim the women’s Ashes.
The Southern Stars are due to touch down in England late on Tuesday (AEST) intent on capturing the coveted prize that has proved elusive through Perry’s cricketing career.
Only once in the past decade has Australia won a women’s Ashes and Perry revealed her ruthless streak when considering what would be driving her through the seven-week tour.
“I don’t like losing to the Poms and I don’t think anyone on our team does,” she told AAP.
“That’s a huge motivation for us.
“We have some aspirations as a squad to be the best cricket side in the world and that means winning everything that’s on offer.
“We’ve done that in the World Cup and World Twenty20 and both of those have been against England.
“But just the opportunity to play in an Ashes series and be a part of that tradition is a huge honour and makes you want to do well for your country.”
Perry produced figures any allrounder would be pleased with during the most recent Ashes series.
With 286 runs at an average of 95 and 12 wickets at an average of 25.5, Perry was the both the most prolific runscorer and wicket-taker of the series, sharing the bowling honours with Rene Farrell.
In the 2015 series, she’s backed another emerging allrounder and a legspinner to make a difference.
Jess Jonassen and tweaker Kristen Beams are yet to feature in Test matches for Australia but Perry singled them out as key improvers in the Southern Stars squad.
“Jess has been hitting the ball harder than anyone else in the squad, I copped one in the stomach the other day from her to attest to that,” Perry said.
“With her bowling as well, she’s a very handy cricketer to have in the squad.”
Beams, 30, is the least experienced at international level to travel to England but Perry said her development in her later years could give Australia a lethal line of attack.
“The way her leg spin bowling has come along, potentially in the Test match she’ll be a really great weapon for us.”
The women’s Ashes series kicks off on July 21 at Taunton, Somerset.
