'She makes everyone feel valued': Perry hails Molineux's captaincy after T20 WC win
Sydney, July 28
Australian veteran Ellyse Perry has heaped praise on captain Sophie Molineux, saying her leadership helped the team produce some of the best cricket it has ever played as Australia clinched a record-extending seventh ICC Women's T20 World Cup title at Lord's cricket ground earlier this month.
Australia defeated England by seven wickets in the final to complete an unbeaten campaign, with Molineux leading the side to the title in her first ICC tournament as captain. Perry, who has now won seven Women's T20 World Cup titles, said the triumph was made even more special by Molineux's remarkable journey back to international cricket.
"We lived together in Melbourne for a period of time and, I guess, over that period, I've seen some really big challenges from a cricket perspective, and I've also seen throughout that whole time the amazing fortitude and tenacity that she has to get back and to play cricket for Australia. She's also one of the most naturally talented cricketers I've ever come across," Perry told cricket.com.au.
Perry said Molineux's qualities extended well beyond her skills as a player.
"She's got this amazing natural nous for captaincy on the field, tactically, but also off the field and how she brings a group together and makes everyone feel incredibly valued. For her to finally get to a point where she was able to show everyone that incredible talent and create this space for us as a team where it's probably some of the best cricket we've ever played, and we've done it consistently and with such a big smile on our face," she added.
Reflecting on Australia's dominant campaign, Perry admitted the title still felt surreal and described it as the most memorable World Cup triumph of her career.
"I think it probably still feels a bit surreal. I didn't have a huge amount of time to reflect on the tournament other than this real sense of satisfaction, not just with the final, but the way that we played throughout the whole competition.
"We didn't have a bad game or a moment where we had to readjust what we were doing. The way we were able to execute our style of play throughout the tournament and the performances across the board from every player was just awesome."
Perry also reserved special praise for Australia's emerging stars Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll, both of whom impressed throughout the tournament.
Litchfield scored 126 runs in four matches despite battling a quad injury, including a 24-ball half-century against South Africa and a crucial 48 in the final against England. Voll finished with 130 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 141.30.
"We've got some amazingly talented players. Phoebe had a disrupted campaign with a quad injury and then came out in the final and played a phenomenal innings that only she's capable of. Volly has been so incredible since she's come into our T20 side, ODI side and Test side. She's just taken to international cricket like a duck to water. I'm sure that's the start of a long and successful career for both of them," Perry said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Women's cricket is truly reaching new heights globally. While I'm happy for Australia, I can't help but think about our Indian women's team. They have the talent - just look at what emerging stars like Litchfield and Voll are doing. We need that same nurturing environment in India. Molineux's journey back from injury is so inspiring - it shows that mental toughness is just as important as skill.
As an Indian cricket fan, I'm always watching the Australian women's team with a mix of admiration and frustration. They've set the benchmark for professionalism and team culture. Our BCCI needs to take notes on how they develop young talent like Voll - she's taken to international cricket like a duck to water, as Perry said. That's what proper exposure does! 🏆
Honestly, I'm so jealous of the Australian team culture. Molineux making everyone feel valued, Perry being such a mentor, and the way they back their young players - this is what we need in India. Our women's team has such potential, but they often look tense under pressure. Maybe a more supportive captaincy style could bring out the best in them. Congratulations to Australia though - thoroughly deserved! 💪
While I'm impressed by Australia's dominance, I feel our Indian women's team needs a similar reset. We have players like Harmanpreet and Mandhana who are world-class, but the overall team performance doesn't match. Maybe we need to look at how Australia builds a "smile on the face" culture - it's not just about talent, but about creating an environment where players can express themselves freely. Perry's words about Molineux are a masterclass in leadership!
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