And the dual international believed women could teach their male counterparts new skills if given the opportunity to play in the Twenty20 competition.

Former Australian captain and cricket legend Steve Waugh said last week it was time to consider adding one female player to each Big Bash team's roster in future seasons.

Waugh raised the idea at the NSW Cricket presentation night with Perry and her NSW Breakers teammates in the crowd.

Perry is Australia's premier female fast bowler and played against men in the Sydney grade competition in 2010.

She backed Waugh's vision to help grow the women's game, but didn't want selection to be handed out based on a rule for teams to pick one female player.

''You're always looking for opportunities to challenge yourself and get better and playing against men is one of the biggest challenges we could have,'' Perry said.

''But we'd really only want to do it if we earn the right or are good enough to be in that position. It goes across men's grade cricket as well as the Big Bash.

''If you can perform, it doesn't matter. But I don't think you can be thrown into it … it should be on merit.

''Playing in the Big Bash is a livelihood for the guys and you don't want to be taking someone's spot as a token gesture.''

Perry is arguably Australia's most talented sportswoman. She plays international cricket and soccer and is a star in both sports.

The 22-year-old played all her junior sport against boys before making her senior debut in cricket and soccer as a teenager and earning Australian selection.

She became the first woman in 117 years to play Sydney grade cricket against men in November 2010 and didn't look out of place taking 2-14 for Sydney in an under-21 Twenty20 match against Blacktown.

Former Australian all-rounder Zoe Goss played in a charity match against men, including Dennis Lillee, Greg Chappell and Jeff Thomson, in 1994. She scored 29 runs and dismissed Brian Lara for 23.

But if women were to take on men more regularly, Perry didn't want it to be token appearances with a roster spot set aside for a female in the Twenty20 squads.

''It's nice to have these thoughts being raised and up for discussion. In a lot of ways it could divide a lot of cricket fans and the only way to really make sure everyone's on board with it is by genuinely being in the sides on merit,'' Perry said.

''It's definitely something to consider. We'd bring different skills to the game.

''We don't bowl as fast as guys obviously through genetics, but we do things different from the guys. There are things we would have to adapt to but I think the guys would have to adapt to our game as well.''

Perry is recovering from ankle surgery after playing through pain to help the Australian Southern Stars to a World Cup triumph last month.

Perry still harbours a desire to play more regularly in the Sydney men's competition to continue developing her skills.

''As a junior I played all my cricket with the boys and it wasn't until you get out of under-16s that you get into the men's competition. I loved playing [grade competition] and I think boys and girls should play in competitions together as juniors … it definitely helped me when I was growing up.''