Ellyse recently led Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred 2026 and concluded her campaign with a match-winning performance in their final league game. \u201cWhat makes Smriti so successful? Her amazing skill. I think she\u2019s got incredible willpower and a super-strong mind, the way she approaches the game, the way she prepares, the way she knows herself, the way she thinks about things, and the way that she likes challenges.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cShe\u2019s got it all. Harman, I think her greatest strength is her tenacity. She\u2019s a great competitor, and when she\u2019s going, she hits some of the biggest shots in the women\u2019s game,\u201d said Ellyse to JioStar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Reflecting on her own remarkable career longevity and personal evolution over the years, Ellyse credited gradual, continuous learning rather than any single turning point. \u201cYou just naturally evolve as you grow as a person. Over the many years I\u2019ve been involved in the game, there have been a number of different experiences, things to learn, people to work with and new avenues to explore.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI guess incrementally, as that happens, you add new things or change the way you do things. Often, they\u2019re only small changes, but over a long period of time, there\u2019s always something new or a way to learn more. Hopefully, you keep improving, and that just kind of builds upon each other. So, nothing in particular, just years of experience.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Despite accumulating numerous World Cup titles and accolades on the global stage, Ellyse maintained that wearing the Australian shirt remains her ultimate career highlight. \u201cHonestly, just being able to play for Australia would be my proudest achievement. I\u2019m a really passionate and patriotic Australian, and I love representing my country.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Looking ahead to the inaugural ICC Women\u2019s Champions Trophy in 2027, Ellyse welcomed the new addition to the international calendar, while acknowledging the physical and mental demands it will place on teams.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s another great opportunity for the women\u2019s game and for all the teams competing. From my perspective, it\u2019s a new event, so it\u2019s always exciting to be a part of something like that, and a new spot on the calendar, which will be great for everyone. You want to play every game well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThis tournament will be physically and mentally a huge challenge, and preparing for those matches, everyone\u2019s going to have to be spot on. But yeah, the mindset remains the same, you just want to win every game,\u201d she added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Offering her perspective on the next generation of female cricketers, Ellyse highlighted the shifting landscape of the women's game and stressed on the value of mutual learning between generations as the key behind growing the game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI was unbelievably fortunate to have some amazing advice when I was younger. I grew up playing cricket locally with some great friends, and I\u2019ve always gone down to the nets with my dad. He\u2019s taught me just about everything I know about cricket, and I\u2019ve just loved having him as a confidant and someone to lean on all the time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Offering her perspective on the next generation of female cricketers, Ellyse highlighted the shifting landscape of the women's game and stressed on the value of mutual learning between generations as the key behind growing the game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve got a different experience, a different energy and a different way of going about things. So, it\u2019s just about supporting each other and having a really open mind to learn from each other,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\r\n\r\n