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The Australian
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The Australian
ODI World Cup: Aussie star Megan Schutt reveals India swansong plans
Megan Schutt sees it as a fitting place to mark the end of an era. Schutt, 32, is on the cusp of reaching 100 ODI caps and the star bowler needs just 10 wickets in October's tournament to become the all-time leading bowler in 50-over World Cups. But the upcoming World Cup in India will be the superstar veteran's last as she edges closer to ending her remarkable career. Schutt will keep playing ODIs and hopes to feature in next year's Twenty20 World Cup in England but doesn't trust her body to hold up for another four years. 'I can't see the body lasting another four years and I think it will be fitting. I started my international career in an ODI World Cup in India,' Schutt said. 'It will be fitting to finish my ODI World Cup career in India too – you're always striving to win, but I think this is a little bit extra incentive. 'I am trying not to plan too far ahead because I do change my mind a lot and am pretty impulsive at times. 'I'd love to and intend to at least be at the T20 World Cup the following year, but from there, that's the part I don't know, I know that's at least my next goal.' Megan Schutt needs just 10 wickets to become the all-time leading bowler in 50-over World Cups. Picture:Schutt's inswing has captured 135 ODI wickets at an average of 23.51 since her debut in 2012. She said she'd never been one to reflect on her career but felt obligated to now as she cracked a century of games. In that reflection, she remembers being thrust into the Australian set-up by injury opportunity and being far from ready to perform at the highest level. 'I'm pretty self-aware and know I kind of got my shot at a good time,' she said. 'Rene Farrell was taking a break from the game and they needed an inswinger and I happened to be around. 'I was not ready for international cricket, I was very far from it. I wasn't fit, I wasn't strong and definitely didn't have the experience in the game. 'I was kind of just winging it, honestly, through pure luck, and I've had this conversation with some people now at the pure talent that's coming through. 'I'm going, 'Where do they fit in this Aussie squad? You're incredible and going to play for Australia but when?' Knowing I got in on luck and good timing kind of doesn't sit well with me. 'I had to develop a work ethic, spend some time on the bench, so I guess my time in the Australian colours is very different to what other girls' is going to look like in the future.' Schutt has been a World Cup star for Australia. Schutt is avoiding decisions beyond 2026 but, after recently completing a level 3 coaching course, she believes she's caught the coaching 'bug'. The art of inswing bowling is a strong passion of Schutt's, and she is eager to pass down her guidance to the next generation. 'It wasn't until the end of that intense five-day course that I thought, 'I think I've got the bug'. If I get the opportunity, I would love to,' she said. 'I think I love the game more than I think I do sometimes and love the challenge and there aren't many female coaches in general. 'Having that inswinging niche, that's something throughout my career I think we've lacked in terms of the understanding. 'I think throughout my career we've sort of lacked coaches who understand inswing bowling. 'Today is very different, but it was always frustrating getting bowling packages that didn't suit my bowling. 'I think having that niche, I would love to help all inswingers around the world – I don't think there's many of us. 'No matter what country they're from, I kind of want to see them succeed, so if I can help them in any way that would be awesome.' Tyler Lewis Sports reporter Tyler Lewis is a sports reporter based in Melbourne's south east. @tmlew_ Tyler Lewis
News.com.au
19 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Australian bowler Megan Schutt has ODI record in her sights at what will be her final 50-over World Cup
Megan Schutt sees it as a fitting place to mark the end of an era. Schutt, 32, is on the cusp of reaching 100 ODI caps and the star bowler needs just 10 wickets in October's tournament to become the all-time leading bowler in 50-over World Cups. But the upcoming World Cup in India will be the superstar veteran's last as she edges closer to ending her remarkable career. Schutt will keep playing ODIs and hopes to feature in next year's Twenty20 World Cup in England but doesn't trust her body to hold up for another four years. 'I can't see the body lasting another four years and I think it will be fitting. I started my international career in an ODI World Cup in India,' Schutt said. 'It will be fitting to finish my ODI World Cup career in India too – you're always striving to win, but I think this is a little bit extra incentive. 'I am trying not to plan too far ahead because I do change my mind a lot and am pretty impulsive at times. 'I'd love to and intend to at least be at the T20 World Cup the following year, but from there, that's the part I don't know, I know that's at least my next goal.' Schutt's inswing has captured 135 ODI wickets at an average of 23.51 since her debut in 2012. She said she'd never been one to reflect on her career but felt obligated to now as she cracked a century of games. In that reflection, she remembers being thrust into the Australian set-up by injury opportunity and being far from ready to perform at the highest level. 'I'm pretty self-aware and know I kind of got my shot at a good time,' she said. 'Rene Farrell was taking a break from the game and they needed an inswinger and I happened to be around. 'I was not ready for international cricket, I was very far from it. I wasn't fit, I wasn't strong and definitely didn't have the experience in the game. 'I was kind of just winging it, honestly, through pure luck, and I've had this conversation with some people now at the pure talent that's coming through. 'I'm going, 'Where do they fit in this Aussie squad? You're incredible and going to play for Australia but when?' Knowing I got in on luck and good timing kind of doesn't sit well with me. 'I had to develop a work ethic, spend some time on the bench, so I guess my time in the Australian colours is very different to what other girls' is going to look like in the future.' Schutt is avoiding decisions beyond 2026 but, after recently completing a level 3 coaching course, she believes she's caught the coaching 'bug'. The art of inswing bowling is a strong passion of Schutt's, and she is eager to pass down her guidance to the next generation. 'It wasn't until the end of that intense five-day course that I thought, 'I think I've got the bug'. If I get the opportunity, I would love to,' she said. 'I think I love the game more than I think I do sometimes and love the challenge and there aren't many female coaches in general. 'Having that inswinging niche, that's something throughout my career I think we've lacked in terms of the understanding. 'I think throughout my career we've sort of lacked coaches who understand inswing bowling. 'Today is very different, but it was always frustrating getting bowling packages that didn't suit my bowling. 'I think having that niche, I would love to help all inswingers around the world – I don't think there's many of us. 'No matter what country they're from, I kind of want to see them succeed, so if I can help them in any way that would be awesome.'
Khaleej Times
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Meet 12-year-old Dubai pace bowler who bowls with both arms
Dubai resident Ramprasad Dommaraju, a former club cricketer in Chennai, India, could not believe his eyes when his then six-year-old son, Mahidhaar, ran into bowl with a classical left-arm action while playing cricket in the backyard. 'I didn't know how to react as my son always bowled right-arm pace,' Ramprasad recalled. "He is a natural right-hander. He does everything with his right hand. So to see him suddenly bowl left-arm with the same action and speed was unbelievable. It was like watching Mitchell Starc with that high-arm action" Mahidhaar is now 12, taking a truckload of wickets in age-group tournaments not only in the UAE, but also in Oman and Sri Lanka. But what's even more remarkable is that he has made amazing progress as an ambidextrous bowler — sometimes changing from right-arm pace to left-arm pace in the same over, leaving batters in a helpless position. 'There is no one else like him in the UAE,' Ramprasad said. Lankan mystery To put things in perspective, Kamindu Mendis, the Sri Lankan batter who has made a terrific start to his Test career with a string of big scores, is the only player in international cricket who could bowl with both arms. Last month, Mendis bowled a match-winning spell (5-0-19-3) in a one-day international against Bangladesh when he got two wickets with his left-arm spin and one with right-arm off-break. The Sri Lankan also became the first bowler in IPL (Indian Premier League) history earlier this year when he bowled with both hands during a match between the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders. 'But Mendis is a spinner, there are few such spinners in cricket-playing countries across the world. But it's extremely rare to find a pace bowler who could bowl with both arms with the same speed,' Ramprasad said. Son of acclaimed Tamil actor, Nalinikanth, Ramprasad also checked with his friends in Indian cricket to see if they had come across young ambidextrous pace bowlers. 'One of my friends worked in the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), and he told me that they have never found a bowler who could bowl pace with both arms. There are a few spinners, but no such pace bowler has been discovered until now in India,' he said. Curious case of Yasir Across the border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, Yasir Jan made headlines for his ability to bowl quick with both left arm and right arm. Such was his talent that Lahore Qalandars, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise, gave the youngster a 10-year development contract in 2016. But unable to cope with some serious injury setbacks, Yasir has since faded into oblivion. Muhammad Ijaz, a former Pakistani first-class cricketer, is now carefully monitoring the progress of Mahidhaar, giving a lot of importance to his fitness. 'I have taught him a few things in terms of technique, but we are also making sure he improves his fitness. He works very hard and he is very passionate about cricket,' said Ijaz, who is now coaching youngsters at Desert Cubs Cricket Academy in the UAE. A former teammate of Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim, Ijaz is truly amazed by the unique skills of Mahidhaar. 'In all my years of playing cricket and coaching youngsters, I have seen a few spinners who bowl with both arms. But I had never seen a pace bowler who could bowl both right arm and left arm until I met this kid,' he said. 'Mahi is unique. Spinners I can understand because they are slow bowlers, but to do this while bowling fast is unbelievable.' Mahidhaar, who never raises his voice above a whisper, is dreaming of playing for India as well as for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the IPL franchise for which his idol, Virat Kohli, plays. 'He has great potential, and I think in two or three years' time, we could see him play at a high level. But, of course, a lot of work needs to be done, and he needs to continue working hard on his game,' Ijaz said. Strong family support Apart from his strengths as an ambidextrous pace bowler who bowls a beautiful inswinger and his newfound ability to hit sixes with the bat, Mahidhaar's greatest advantage is his supportive family. Despite being without a job, Ramprasad has left no stone unturned in his attempts to give Mahidhaar the best opportunities as a rising cricketer. 'I don't have a job now, so it's been very difficult. My wife (Shalini Ramprasad) is a dentist, but you know how tough it is. We have faced a lot of challenges, but we have never made any compromises when it comes to our son's cricketing dreams,' Ramprasad said. Coach Ijaz also acknowledges that the unwavering support from the parents has played the biggest role in Mahidhaar's promising career. 'Yes, his biggest advantage is his parents, who are so supportive. They also bring him to the ground on weekdays. Normally, you see kids in the UAE training only at weekends, but his father always brings him to the ground. That's really commendable,' Ijaz said. Can Mahidhaar repay the faith by playing at the highest level of cricket? "His skills as an ambidextrous pace bowler might give him an advantage," said Ramprasad, who is planning to take his son to India for domestic trials in the future. Ijaz, on the other hand, keeps his fingers crossed. 'Well, he has a long way to go, but he is unique. He is a very talented kid,' Ijaz said. 'He came to our academy as a bowling all-rounder, but his father asked me if I could also improve his batting. I taught him a few things, and his batting has now improved a lot. He scored three back-to-back half-centuries in a tournament. He is a quick learner and, as a coach, you always feel a sense of optimism with such kids!'
Telegraph
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
England panicked and it cost them
I do not want to be too hard on a team that have had a lot of misfortune this week. They went in without perhaps their most important-ever cricketer, and then lost a key bowler on the opening day. England lost by six runs to India effectively playing with 10 men, so I do not want to be too critical. But the truth is England panicked. The closer they got, within 70, they tried to be more high risk. The approach was wrong on the final morning. It was too risky. If it takes 15 overs, so be it. You do not need to whizz 35 runs in five overs. All it needed was one steady head. Three of the last seven wickets were players dancing down the wicket to seamers. If India lost in that fashion, we would have said they yipped up. If South Africa lost like that, we would say they choked. It was that bad a miss. That will really hurt. When you know you should win a game, it is so painful. Of course you can look at it two ways. It is a great achievement to get so close, but when you have got 70 to win, you should waltz home in your own conditions. It was swinging but it was not spitting or keeping low. We should have been better at chasing that on the last morning. They had done the hard work. They had reached the point where they should win the game and they have not. As a result, England have failed again to win a five-match series. They are great to watch and garner so much attention because of their style of play, but that has been their problem so far. They still have not beaten India or Australia under the management of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. Nevertheless, this has been a brilliant series to watch, between two closely matched teams full of skill and heart. It got a truly incredible ending and kept us guessing right until the final morning. A word for India. Every time I thought they looked down and out in this series they sprung back off the canvas, including on the final morning. I turned up thinking England would win, but led by Mohammed Siraj, they were magnificent. With their player pool, you would expect them to be a skilful side, but they have so much heart and such a great attitude that means they are never beaten. A drawn series here for them is an incredible achievement given the age profile of their team. Good signs – and warnings – for Ashes I have been encouraged by so much of what England have done in this series. Their batting is still not perfect but has matured, as we saw in the chase at Headingley and on the first day at Lord's. They have proved in this Test that they have the bowling depth to take a battery of quicks to Australia. Look at who was unavailable this week. Add Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue, who toiled so whole-heartedly here with Chris Woakes injured, to Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Brydon Carse, and you have the weapons to win – if they are rotated right. I like Jamie Overton's attitude and hit-the-pitch style and would take him, even if I might have looked at a more green-top style bowler for this game. When Stokes is fit, I think they can beat anyone. When he is not, they can be beaten by everyone. When Ben is captain and the series has been hot, they have won. At the Oval, he was not. The mentality the captain brings, it is so clear and obvious when he is not out there. He cannot have the same impact when he is stood on the balcony or sat next to McCullum. If in the worst case scenario Stokes is not fit for the Perth Test in November, I would much rather see Harry Brook lead England than Ollie Pope. He is a more natural captain and just much more like Stokes. As good as they are when he is in the side, some of the think-tank's decision-making really worries me. I loved the pitch this week but it is hard to believe the first green top of the series was the right surface for an England team 2-1 up at home. And then there is selection. I have to question England's handling of Jacob Bethell this summer. I am not remotely saying he cost England the game, but he looked like a cricketer who had not been playing. I felt for him. It is something England have never done. We have always picked young players, but with a bit of experience. They had a couple of years of scoring hundreds or taking five-fers. I feel we are trying to reinvent the wheel and when England are too maverick, things start to go wrong. I would actually like to sit down with Rob Key and Luke Wright and ask them this: when you were 21, would you like to be thrown into a Test match on the back of no cricket? If they say they would not have minded, they are lying. England did so much right this series, but I hope they learnt from this week. They have to be honest with themselves that if they are in that situation in Perth, Sydney or anywhere in between this winter: store this knowledge and win the game. I do not blame Brook for trying to win the game quickly, but I hope he remembers the clinical option next time. And I hope England are careful with their handling of Jamie Smith, who looked utterly exhausted. Over a five-match series we talk about how hard it is for the captain, for the bowlers, but sometimes forget about the wicketkeeper. He has kept for more than 1,000 overs and this week the ball was flying to all parts. He is at the start of his Test career and could be an all-time great. But he is an all-format player and England have got to be very wary that he is not overworked. As we have seen this series, the end is every bit as important as the last. There is lots to like about this team and I think if Stokes is fit, they have a great chance in Australia. I just hope they learn from this missed opportunity.
The Guardian
25-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Sports quiz of the week: England v Spain, Tour, Tests and transfer deals
He is a bowler who had never scored more than five runs in an innings before
