Megan Schutt excited by the prospect of donning the baggy green in a Test match against England in July
South Australian bowler Megan Schutt is England bound as Australia’s Women’s Cricket Team looks to defend its Ashes series victory from 2017.
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The world’s best female cricketers don’t get many opportunities to play Test cricket, so the prospect of putting on the baggy green against England is exciting for SA’s Megan Schutt.
Opening bowler Schutt was named in the Australian Women’s Ashes squad this week, which will tour England in July and play across all formats: T20, ODI with the one Test match.
The Test, which starts on July 18 at the Country Ground, Taunton, will be Schutt’s fourth time wearing the baggy green and she said it would be a thrill to don the famous cap again.
“Test cricket doesn’t often hop on the horizon for a lot of girls,” she said.
“I think that’s the ultimate.
“A lot of girls have been filtered through Australian cricket and not been able to play Test cricket, so to be able to have the opportunity to do that is incredible.”
The Australian Women’s Cricket Team only plays Test matches against England, once every two years.
“It’s a one-off game so it’s something you really want to be fit and ready for,” Schutt said.
“I think in the back of your mind, everyone wants to play it, but whether you’re ready for it or not is another story.
“We put in a lot of time against not even just bowling loads, but tactical planning and just changing things and changing your temperament and all things that come along with that, so it’s really exciting and hopefully I get to put on the baggy green again.”
Schutt said the month-long Ashes series was her favourite of the cricket tours.
“I’ve had some of my best memories and going over to English conditions probably suits my bowling a little bit more so than others,” she said.
“I’m excited to hopefully take some wickets over there.
“It’s always a really good series against them and no one ever blows anyone out of the park and hopefully it will be another series win for us.”
The 26-year-old was the leading wicket-taker during the last Ashes series in 2017, which was held in Australia. She took 18 wickets at an average of 15.16, with an economy of 3.59.
Schutt has spent the six-week off-season rehabing an injured foot, which has included wearing specialised thick-soled sneakers, but she said she’d right for the tour, with the first ODI scheduled for July 2.
“I got a random foot injury over the break, it’s just time on feet has finally stemmed to a foot injury, I got to 26 years without one, so it’s a long time coming,” she said.
“But we’ve got the right people in the right places doing the right things.
“I’m back up running and bowling my loads now, so it’s not something I’m too worried about.”
Two other South Australians will also head to England: allrounder Tahlia McGrath and spin bowler Amanda-Jade Wellington have been named in the Australia A squad which will also tour England and play matches against the England Women’s Team and England Women’s Academy.
Wellington, who lost her Cricket Australia contract in April, is excited to be part of the tour.
“Any time you put on the Australian jersey is really an honour and I’m really excited to get back to England and play cricket again, I love the English pitches so I’m really looking forward to playing in the conditions.”
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