Ellyse Perry

And I think as a kid, reflecting on that, you feel the genuineness or the intent from your parents, even if they're trying to hide it.

I think you know exactly what.

What things are about, you might not be able to articulate it, but you get a sense of your parents' expectations.

And I think for me growing up, just all my memories and still what means the most to me from a cricket perspective is just spending hours like in the backyard, down at the park.

you know, at the local swimming pool.

It didn't matter where, just being active and learning new skills with mum and dad.

And that kind of transversed into being in the nets when I was old enough and getting my first bat and learning technique and then,

You know, we had a bit of grass next to our house at one point.

So dad taught me how to kick left and right footed.

But none of that was with like this intent to go anywhere with it.

It was just, it was just learn this skill, enjoy doing it and spend time together.

And I think that has fundamentally given me this amazing kind of reason why I do things because it all stems back to just the joy of learning a new skill and working on something and progressing something with Dad.

Dad's the last person I speak to before every game that I play.

One, because a big reason why I play is because of this connection that we've got and what we've shared.

And I think, you know, whenever I walk out on the field, like I never feel like I'm just walking out by myself to do this.

Obviously I'm in the team as well, but like in terms of like, I don't ever carry everything by myself because it's just kind of like, I might be like the physical embodiment of it, but like...

Dad's always been there.

We've always worked together.

It's like this shared space, which I love.

And so, yeah, I still look to him for all of his advice and wisdom and perspective as well.