Megan Schutt needed only two balls to underline her value in the first ODI against India, making it clear she was far from finished in Australia’s one-day plans.
Recalled to the XI at Allan Border Field on Tuesday, Schutt struck with her second delivery of the match after sitting out the entire T20I leg of the series. The experienced quick showed no signs of inactivity, immediately making her presence felt after beginning the tour on the fringes of the ODI squad.
Her trademark inswinger accounted for India opener Pratika Rawal lbw, an early breakthrough that highlighted Schutt’s effectiveness with the new ball. That opening burst helped Australia’s attack dictate proceedings from the outset on what became a commanding day in the field.
“I’ve been joking with them all the time that they can’t get rid of me that easily,” Schutt told reporters at Hobart airport on Wednesday.
“It’s nice to be back in the squad and back in the team as well.
More Read
“Making an impact with the new ball is what I was brought in to do … it’s nice to be able to do that and just feel good behind the ball again.
“That’s your job as an opening bowler, we’re all looking for wickets early. In the Powerplay, it’s a risk- reward situation with only two out, and I was lucky enough to get the ball moving and got the wicket early.”
Schutt finished with 2-42 from her nine overs, a return that carried further significance. The haul moved her past Lisa Sthalekar into third place on Australia’s all-time women’s ODI wicket-takers list, trailing only Cathryn Fitzpatrick (180) and Ellyse Perry (166).
More Read
Initially left out of the one-day squad for the India series, Schutt had remained in contention for the T20Is but was overlooked in favour of fellow quicks Kim Garth and Darcie Brown across all three matches. When squads were named in January, national selector Shawn Flegler explained the call was based on conditions at home and the desire to give Brown greater exposure in the format, rather than signalling the end of the 33-year-old’s ODI journey.
An untimely quad injury to Garth, ruling her out of the three-match ODI leg, paved the way for Schutt’s inclusion.
The seamer revealed she had also spoken with selectors during the T20I phase about her absence from the playing XI.
“Extra pace (in Brown) was the main (reason) against the Indian side,” she said.
“And I understand – it’s disappointing sitting on the sidelines – but again, it’s part of the job that you do, being on the sidelines, and you’ve still got to really support your team and run the drinks well and try not to be too sour about it.
“Obviously, I had my moments with the coaching staff when I was told.
More Read
“But apart from that you crack on, it’s part of the job and you’ve just got to take the chance when it comes.”
Australia arrived in Hobart on Wednesday and are scheduled to train at Bellerive Oval on Thursday ahead of the second ODI. With the multi-format series locked at four points each, the hosts will be aiming to build momentum in the remaining matches.
Two ODIs are set to be played in Hobart within three days, and selectors could consider offering a debut to 19-year-old left-arm quick Lucy Hamilton, who joined the ODI squad alongside Schutt. Hamilton had initially been included in the broader squad for the standalone Test at the WACA Ground.
Schutt expressed confidence that the Queenslander would be ready if called upon.
“She’s a good kid, she’s just got her head screwed on,” she said.
“I think when I was that age, I definitely did not, and that’s probably the difference of the next generation coming through, is they’ve got the work ethic, they’ve got the talent, but they’ve got the perspective too, which is really nice.
“The x-factor of the left-armer coming into the squad is really awesome, and she swings the ball the same way as me, so that’s always nice.
“I don’t doubt (that she’s ready) at all. I think that’s the beauty of the kids coming in now, the transition seems so smooth and effortless.
“It’s just really exciting to see the next generation of players come through, and I don’t doubt that she’d be good at the job at hand.”
NRMA Insurance Australia v India Multi-Format Series
The multi-format series is tied 4-4
First T20I: India won by 21 runs (DLS)
Second T20I: Australia won by 19 runs
Third T20I: India won by 17 runs
Australia ODI squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Sophie Molineux (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
India ODI squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Kashvee Gautam, Amanjot Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Uma Chetry, Harleen Deol, Pratika Rawal
February 24: Australia won by six wickets
February 27: Second ODI, Bellerive Oval, Hobart, 2:50pm AEDT
March 1: Third ODI, Bellerive Oval, Hobart, 2:50pm AEDT
Australia Test squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Sophie Molineux (vc), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
India Test squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh, Sneh Rana, Amanjot Kaur, Uma Chetry, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare
