The Albany Gazette - Australia upbeat about 'ultimate professional' Perry's fitness for World Cup final

All-rounder Perry retired hurt with a quad problem during Tuesday's eight-wicket semi-final thrashing of the West Indies at the Oval.

But the 35-year-old was put through her paces during Friday's training session, getting through several sprinting drills and also having a lengthy bat in the nets.

It is batting that has been the stronger suit of Perry, who burst onto the international scene as a teenage fast bowler, in recent years with her 56 at Lord's last week helping Australia achieve a T20 World Cup record chase of 171 that knocked India out of the tournament.

Australia coach Shelley Nitschke suggested Thursday that Perry, widely acknowledged as an all-time great of women's cricket, could play in the final even if less than 100 percent fit.

Perry's Australia team-mate Phoebe Litchfield, however, said Friday: "Pez is great. She's prepping really well and she's the ultimate professional.

"She had a total wellness day yesterday (Thursday), apparently, just getting everything right. The body's a temple for Pez, so it's nice to see her back around the group today and moving really well.

"As you can all imagine, she wants to be out there on Sunday and is doing everything in her ability to do that, which is the true professional that she is."

- 'Fresh-faced England' -

Both Australia and England have won all six of their games leading into the final.

But Australia, bidding for a record-extending seventh T20 World Cup title, will be favourites to regain the crown they lost in the United Arab Emirates in 2024.

They have held the muti-format women's Ashes since 2015, humiliating England with a 16-0 whitewash series win in Australia 18 months ago.

While lifting trophies has been a common occurence for Australia during the past decade, it is nine years since England last won a major international tournament, defeating India in a thrilling 50-over World Cup final in front of a capacity crowd at Lord's.

Heather Knight, England's captain in 2017, starred with the bat as England thrashed South Africa by 40 runs in an Oval semi-final on Thursday.

Knight made 58 and shared a decisive fourth-wicket partnership of 133 with current skipper and fellow 2017 World Cup-winner Nat Sciver-Brunt (75) after England had collapsed to 23-3.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge is the only other survivor from that memorable day still in the England side, with Knight saying: "I think we'll draw on (2017) a little bit.

"Playing in the home World Cup is quite unique and me, Nat and Danni are the only people that have done that.

"This is a very fresh-faced team. We play cricket in our own way.

"But I like playing in finals there. They're good fun. Playing at Lord's is always very special."

Knight, 35, added: "Hopefully we can deal with the big occasion and really just try and enjoy it. We'll just try and bring our best and hopefully bring that trophy home."

(T.Martin--TAG)