Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry scripted history on Saturday (June 20) by becoming the first cricketer, male or female, to make 50 appearances in the ICC T20 World Cup. Perry was part of Australia’s starting 11 for the ongoing 14th match of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup against the Netherlands in Southampton.
Most matches played in the ICC T20 World Cup, Men and Women:
| Rank | Player | Team | Category | Span | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ellyse Perry | Australia Women | Women | 2009–2026 | 50* |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | India | Men | 2007–2024 | 47 |
| 3 | Suzie Bates | New Zealand Women | Women | 2009–2026 | 43 |
| 4 | Jos Buttler | England | Men | 2012–2026 | 43 |
| 5 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | Men | 2007–2024 | 43 |
| 6 | Alyssa Healy | Australia Women | Women | 2010–2024 | 42 |
| 7 | Harmanpreet Kaur | India Women | Women | 2009–2026 | 41 |
| 8 | David Warner | Australia | Men | 2009–2024 | 41 |
| 9 | Sophie Devine | New Zealand Women | Women | 2009–2026 | 40 |
| 10 | Adil Rashid | England | Men | 2009–2026 | 38 |
Perry is one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history. Making her T20I debut in 2008 at just 17, Perry quickly became a cornerstone of Australia’s dominance in the shortest format. She holds the historic distinction of being the first player, male or female, to amass 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in T20Is and has the overall fourth-most appearances in the format for women’s cricket.
‘I can’t believe it’: Ellyse Perry
Perry’s T20 World Cup pedigree is unmatched. The
35-year-old has participated in every tournament since its inception in 2009 and has been integral to Australia winning six titles. She stands as the third-highest wicket-taker in the tournament’s history, claiming 42 wickets at an impressive average of 17.16, with best figures of 3/12. As a batter, Perry has anchored and accelerated Australia’s middle order to amass 559 runs.
When reminded about her achievement before the match, Perry’s reaction was of part-disbelief and part-pride.
“It’s always just incredibly awesome to be a part of a World Cup, to be a part of an Australian team,” Perry said in a press conference in Southampton on Friday. “It’s a special team to play cricket for. I feel incredibly fortunate to have done it for a period of time, and I think certainly over the journey of T20 World Cups and, the experience that we’ve had at every single one of them, they’ve all been unique and different. I can’t believe I’ve played 50.”
