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Ellyse Perry prepares for last NSW stand

Ellyse Perry has won almost 20 titles with NSW but she'll play her last game for the state in Saturday's WNCL final against Queensland.

Ellyse Perry
Cricket star Ellyse Perry is preparing to play her final game for the NSW Breakers. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Ellyse Perry has been winning titles with NSW for 18 years but she is aiming for one final Women's National Cricket League trophy over Queensland.

Bound for Victoria next season to live with husband Matt Toomua, Saturday's 50-over final at North Sydney Oval will be the 28-year-old's last game for the Breakers.

It will end an incredible streak for Perry, who has won almost a title a year with NSW since she was selected in the state's primary school side alongside Alyssa Healy in 2001.

"It's a little strange," Healy told AAP.

"We've played all our cricket for NSW. It's sad to see her go and there is probably a big part of her that's sad to be leaving.

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"She told me yesterday: 'I'm not retiring, I'm simply changing states so (the hype) is a little uncomfortable'.

"But she's left a legacy in NSW, and that's something we want to celebrate tomorrow."

Perry has won 17 national titles with NSW, including two primary school national tournaments, three junior national carnivals, 10 WNCLs and two Twenty20 Cups before the WBBL was formed.

Beaten only once in a WNCL final during her 11-year stint, Perry highlights a Breakers set-up that's never missed a final in the competition's 23-year history and dominated junior age groups with 15 wins in the last 16 years of under-18s cricket.

"You can't teach winning," Healy said.

"It's something (the young girls) experience as a player coming through.

"So when you come in and play senior cricket you know when times get tough you can fight your way out of any situation. It shows why this state has been so successful."

There's also the feeling of a grudge match on Saturday.

Queensland's Brisbane Heat players knocked the Sydney Thunder out of the WBBL semi-final last month before beating the Sixers in the final.

"I wouldn't call it revenge but there's a bit of sting around," Healy said.

"Both sides are disappointed how we finished the season and not having that trophy in NSW which we pride ourselves on.

"There is a lot of those Heat girls in that squad who will be willing to take another trophy from NSW. But we'll be ready to rock and roll."


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