‘It’s really easy to overestimate your importance as an athlete’: Ellyse Perry

Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects we’re told to keep private by getting them to roll a die. The numbers they land on are the topics they’re given. This week, he talks to Ellyse Perry. The sportswoman, 34, is Australia’s youngest-ever international cricketer, having made her one-day match debut in 2007 aged 16. She’s also the only athlete to have played for Australia in cricket and soccer World Cups.

MONEY

Growing up, did you think you’d make money from sport as an adult? Definitely not. As a kid, being involved in sport was about the pure joy of it. From as early as I can remember, we used to head out to the backyard or local park to be active: run, jump, kick, catch and ride bikes. It was just a natural progression to get involved in organised sport once I went to school.

Was the lack of professional women’s cricket a factor? When I was growing up, women’s sport wasn’t really a viable career option for female athletes. Even when I started out at an international level, it wasn’t a full-time option. The first tour I went on, all the girls in the team had other jobs, or were studying. Our captain worked for Australia Post; there were physios, accountants and teachers. It’s evolved over time, and it’s still evolving.

You’re now famous. Are you rich? [Laughs] In many respects, yes. I had the most amazing upbringing. I live in a country that has provided all sorts of opportunities. It depends how you define being rich, but I certainly feel rich in life and experience. I feel that’s all that matters, really.

It was recently announced you’d signed a new three-year deal with the Sydney Sixers cricket team. How much of that decision was about money, and how much of it about something else? It was all the other things. I’ve been with the Sixers since its inception and have loved every minute. The chance to – probably – finish my career [with them] was really exciting. It was about the chance to stay involved for as long as possible.

It’s wild that you already have to consider retirement at this age. What’s the plan, post-cricket? I’ve had this fantasy for a while, where I pack up my car and do a trip across Australia when I finish playing, just to see more of our country. But besides that, I’m not really sure. I haven’t thought too much about it.

What do you buy for yourself when you win a match? Oh, I don’t know if I’ve ever bought myself anything! Maybe the occasional chocolate bar from the servo on the way home.

RELIGION

You’re not religious in the conventional sense. At the same time, sport provides community, culture, history and a sense of belonging. Is sport your religion, in some ways? I think so, but I’m uncomfortable overestimating the importance of sport. In reality, it’s a game. But the way that you’ve outlined it – in terms of it being a community, and a place to explore yourself and learn new things – I think it’s a wonderful and safe environment to do all that. And the closest I’ve got to feeling I’m on a different plane are those rare, unique moments where you’re in the zone, where you feel like how you’re playing is beyond your level of consciousness. You’re doing it in an instinctive manner that requires no thought.

Musicians and performers talk about that, too. Experts refer to it as “flow” – an almost altered state. One hundred per cent. And those moments are quite transcendent. It becomes less about the actual game and more about this amazing interaction with everything around you. It all just seems to flow into harmony for a defined period of time; everything seems in sync, and the whole world makes sense. No postulating about the future or ruminating on the past. You’re just wholly present, which is really cool.

What are your commandments for being a good athlete? It’s really easy to overestimate your importance as an athlete. So for me, it’s about keeping perspective. Nothing’s ever as important as it feels. To win or lose with graciousness is so important because sport has a funny way of levelling things out over a long period of time. If you’re too reactive to losing or winning, it’ll always come back and bite you.

BODIES

What have your gnarliest injuries been? I’ve been really fortunate across my career. I’ve only had a couple of surgeries, and been out a couple of times with an injury. Understanding how resilient the body is and how capable it is of bouncing back, is really cool in itself.

How do you protect your mental health? A huge part is being active, being outdoors and using my body. I’m fortunate that my job lends itself to that. Also, it can be easy to define yourself in terms of outcomes of matches, or how you’ve gone on a particular day. But, in reality, sport’s just something you do: it’s not who you are. So a large part of staying mentally healthy is exploring life and pushing yourself to new places, to figure new things out.

When do you feel most comfortable in your own skin? When I’m being physically active.

When do you feel least comfortable in your own skin? At formal social functions.

Have you ever considered getting a tattoo? Yeah.

What would it be? Probably the word “prapañca”.

Wait, what does that mean? It’s a Sanskrit word that means “mental proliferation”. I think of it as a reminder for sport – but also for life in general – that you can only ever exist in the moment.

What is your superpower? Hmm, I find that question really hard. I can’t give the most humble-sounding answer.

Go for it. You’re Ellyse Perry. Maintaining perspective.

diceytopics@goodweekend.com.au

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