Megan Schutt will soon be seen on the field in the India vs Australia ODI match. Ahead of the big game, take a look at her journey that changed the game of inswing bowling.
Megan Schutt has become one of the biggest names in women's cricket over the years. And the much-loved inswinger has been extremely candid about the ups and downs of her journey. At first, she described her own pace as 'perfect to be hit' and her bowling action as 'pretty horrible'. However, with two decades in the game, she has become the leading wicket-taker in women's internationals and the most successful bowler in Women's cricket history.
Nonetheless, Megan's success was not built solely on raw pace or natural physical dominance. It was years of practice, adaptation, resilience and a touch of accidental genius. The turning point came when a teenage stress factor pushed her to alter her bowling action. That unintentionally changed her into an inswing bowler, a skill that defined her career. So, let's take a look at her journey.
Megan's cricket journey began modestly, as she started as the only girl playing among boys before moving to an all-girls team. However, as it was a softball team, it had a significant impact on her development. Nonetheless, once she entered the structured age-group cricket, she admitted she didn't have much knowledge about technique or tactics. She would throw straight deliveries without understanding the swing.
However, the injury she suffered at 16 changed everything. It forced her to adjust her jump at the crease and altered her wrist position. This led to her producing inswing almost accidentally. It wasn't planned, but it was necessary. Megan soon turned it to her advantage, and at a time when only a few bowlers in the women's game mastered inswing, her skill made all the difference. Rather than attempting to bulk up and bowl faster, she chose to refine her ability to swing, and that decision changed everything.
Within three years of this, Megan earned a call-up to Australia's ODI squad. Her debut with the new ball brought no wickets, but she soon claimed two in her second match and was then unexpectedly selected for the 2013 World Cup. While she started the season thinking she would just be a squad member making up numbers, she ended the tournament as the leading wicket-taker. The big win established her reputation as a big-tournament performer.
Looking back, Megan credits part of her early success to the element of surprise. She shared that the opponents did not know her strengths, and she capitalised on that. While some interpreted her reflections as imposter syndrome, she frames them as youthful ignorance. She had little understanding of the professional and cultural environment she was entering. Megan revealed that she grasped the significance of joining an Australian side. When she first broke into the XI, she felt she had not fully earned her spot. However, over time, she earned her place with her determination and hard work.
While they fell short in the 2016 T20 World Cup final and were knocked out of the 2017 ODI World Cup in the semi-finals by India. However, that loss started a broader shift in global power dynamics with Megan. She disliked the talk of a 'gap' between Australia and the rest and instead celebrated the rapid development of other nations. She proved her words in the upcoming games, and the same is expected of her in the game with India. She sees competitive unpredictability as healthy and has envisioned a future with a 16-team Women's T20 World Cup, reflecting her belief in growth and inclusivity.
Off the field, Megan has become one of the most outspoken members of the Australian team on social issues. Her activism first gained prominence during Australia's 2017 same-sex marriage postal survey. The cricketer has been in a long-term relationship with Jess Holyoake. The couple tied the knot in 2019 after advocating for change in Australia for a long time. Megan was vocal and visible in her support for marriage equality, encouraging pride and solidarity even when others felt apprehensive. Although 61.6 per cent of Australians voted in favour, she was unsettled by the significant minority who opposed it and were disturbed by the tone and misinformation about the "no" campaign.
Megan welcomed parenthood with her partner, Jess, in 2021, when she welcomed their daughter, Rylee. She was born three months prematurely and is autistic. However, the experience of neonatal intensive care was frightening but transformative. It shifted cricket from the centre of her identity and prompted deep self-reflection. Her own experience led her to speak about premature birth and neurodiversity, using her platform to raise awareness. She describes becoming a parent as a "180-degree flip" in her personal growth, except for her sense of humour. The journey has involved understanding herself more clearly and consciously breaking patterns she recognised from her own upbringing.
What are your thoughts on Megan Schutt's journey? Let us know.
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