When we talk about women’s cricket icon today, two names that immediately hit the mind are Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry. Both are modern legends—fierce competitors and inspirations not just in India and Australia, but around the world.
Whether it’s Mandhana’s elegant stroke play or Perry’s all-round excellence, fans have been lucky to witness these stars taking women’s cricket to new levels.
In this blog, we’ll do a deep dive into their:
- Career Stats
- Major Records
- Global Impact
- What sets them apart
Smriti Mandhana: India’s Batting Icon
Quick Overview
- Full Name: Smriti Shriniwas Mandhana
- Date of Birth: July 18, 1996
- Role: Opening Batter
- Batting Style: Left-handed
- International Debut: 2013
Mandhana made her debut at just 16 years old. Her fluent batting, especially off the back foot, has drawn comparisons with greats of the game.
Career Stats (as of July 2025)
| Format | Matches | Runs | Avg | 100s/50s | Best |
| ODI | 83 | 3,410 | 42.6 | 6/27 | 135 |
| T20I | 125 | 3,010 | 28.8 | 0/22 | 87 |
| Test | 5 | 440 | 44.0 | 1/2 | 127 |
Major Achievements
- ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year (2018)
- Fastest 50 by an Indian in T20Is (24 balls)
- First Indian woman to score a century in WBBL
- Key player in India’s 2017 World Cup run
🇦🇺 Ellyse Perry: The Complete Aussie All-Rounder
Fast Facts
- Full Name: Ellyse Alexandra Perry
- Date of Birth: November 3, 1990
- Role: All-Rounder
- Batting Style: Right-handed
- Bowling Style: Right-arm medium
- International Debut: 2007
Not only a cricketer, Perry also played international football before fully switching to cricket. That move changed the face of women’s cricket.
Career Stats (as of July 2025)
| Format | Matches | Runs | Bat Avg | Wickets | Bowl Avg |
| ODI | 138 | 4,140 | 50.4 | 170 | 23.4 |
| T20I | 147 | 1,800 | 30.5 | 122 | 19.9 |
| Test | 11 | 832 | 55.5 | 38 | 18.6 |
Major Achievements
- ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Decade (2011–2020)
- First ever player (male or female) to get 1,000+ runs & 100+ wickets in T20Is
- Best bowling figures in Women’s Tests: 7/22
- Scored 213 in a Women’s Ashes Test* – record for an Aussie woman
Smriti Mandhana vs Ellyse Perry: Head-to-Head
| Attribute | Smriti Mandhana | Ellyse Perry |
| Role | Specialist Batter | All-Rounder |
| Debut Year | 2013 | 2007 |
| ODI Batting Avg | 42.6 | 50.4 |
| Total Centuries | 7 (all formats) | 4 (all formats) |
| Total Wickets | 0 | 330+ |
| League Influence | WBBL, WPL Star | MVP-level in WBBL |
| Fielding Skills | Agile, Quick | Slip-catching, athletic |
Impact Beyond Numbers
Inspiration to Young Girls
- Mandhana is a role model across India, often speaking about mental health, confidence, and equality in sports.
- Perry, calm and classy, helped normalize women’s sports in Australia through her multi-sport excellence and humility.
Growth of Leagues
- Smriti boosted the Women’s Premier League (WPL) viewership in India.
- Perry’s years in WBBL made it the world’s best women’s T20 league.
What They Can Learn From Each Other
| Smriti Mandhana | Ellyse Perry |
| Could learn from Perry’s fitness and longevity | Might benefit from Mandhana’s aggression in powerplays |
| More consistent but less all-round | Great all-round but less aggressive in T20s |
Last Point: Different Styles, Same Greatness
There’s no clear winner in this comparison.
- Mandhana is India’s batting flag bearer.
- Perry is arguably the most complete cricketer in women’s cricket history.
If you’re an Indian cricket fan:
Smriti Mandhana is your pride.
If you’re a global fan:
Ellyse Perry’s all-round brilliance is hard to match.
But ultimately, both legends have:Broken barriers
Inspired girls to take up cricket
Brought women’s cricket into the mainstream spotlight
