‘We’ve got huge depth in batting and bowling’ - Ellyse Perry confident ahead of World Cup 2025

Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry believes that the team’s batting and bowling depth will be a major advantage as they prepare for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2025. Defending champions, Australia will first play a three-match ODI series against India Women in the lead-up to the marquee tournament.

The veteran all-rounder emphasized the importance of adapting to local conditions to bring out the best in the team. The reigning champions will begin their campaign for the 2025 edition in a match against New Zealand on October 1 at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.

"We're really conscious of the fact that we're incredibly fortunate to have some huge depth in our side, both batting and bowling. I think we've made a really conscious shift towards wanting to take the game on from the very start and probably keep our foot down for as long as we can," Perry said at a sponsorship announcement as quoted by ICC.

"You've got to adapt to conditions and certain circumstances, but it just feels like there's a real ethos within the group to make sure that we can utilise everyone's talent on the day. It's going to be one person's day most of the time, but if we can really be consistent with that, we've got a good chance of being successful more often than not,” she added.

Despite the changes in personnel since the 2022 Women’s Cricket World Cup, Perry expressed confidence that the new faces have settled in well within the squad. The 34-year-old all-rounder is set to feature in her fifth ODI World Cup, adding yet another milestone to her illustrious career.

"(There's been) some fairly big changes to our group over the last four years. But in the last particularly 12 months, we've had a fairly stable group and some really amazing young talent emerge as mainstays as well, contributing consistently in every match. From that perspective, it's definitely a slightly different-looking team, but I think still a really stable and established team,” said Perry.

Every World Cup just gets a little bigger for Perry

Perry was full of praise for Annabel Sutherland, who has been in outstanding form in recent months. The 23-year-old boasts an ODI batting average of 40.26 and a bowling average of 22.48. In the recently concluded The Hundred Women's competition, she amassed 206 runs at an average of 51.50 and claimed 16 wickets at 14.43, playing a pivotal role in guiding her team to victory. Perry added that Sutherland, along with Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll, are exciting prospects for Australia heading into the World Cup.

"Annabel's been absolutely superb for the last 12 months, probably before that, and to think that she's only still so young is quite incredible. I think her coupled with Phoebe Litchfield, the way that she's been playing, Georgia Voll as well, since she's had an opportunity at an international level - there's some really, really special young players that we've got in the group,” said Perry.

"I think they balance out the experience that we have as well. I'm sure Annabel's going to have a wonderful tournament. She works exceptionally hard at her game. She's never standing still. It feels like with the women's game, every World Cup just gets a little bit bigger, more competitive, and there's more on the line,” she added.

Australia squad for Women's ODI World Cup 2025: Alyssa Healy (captain and wicketkeeper), Nicole Faltum, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Georgia Voll, Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Alana King, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Chali Knott, Grace Harris, Darcie Brown, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Georgia Wareham