Schutt hopes short change pays dividends

Australia fast bowler Megan Schutt hopes a new approach will pay off in the long – or rather, short – run in this month’s Women’s World Cup.

Schutt has been working on a new-look run up during the Southern Stars’ pre-tournament training camps in Queensland, something she hopes will prepare her for the rigours of a demanding tournament that will see Australia play seven matches in 20 days during the round-robin phase.

"I’ve got a new run up now, so the (first training) camp was about getting used to that and trying to hit my straps, line and length, so hopefully the more I bowl the more I’ll get used to it," Schutt told cricket.com.au.

"There was a lot of unnecessary run up to my last one, it was a lot of jazz for not much at the end of it.

"I bowl the same pace off the new one as I did off the old one, so why waste that energy?

"It’s nice to finish eight overs and feel like I’ve bowled five or six off the old run up. It’s a long tournament, so the more energy I can save the better."

Those seven matches may become nine if results go as planned for the Southern Stars, meaning a less demanding run-up could be crucial for the 24-year-old, who has been managing troublesome knees for several years.

Schutt has fond memories of her first and only World Cup to date – at just 20 years of age and with only two ODIs to her name before the 2013 tournament in India, she took 15 scalps to finish as the overall leading wicket-taker to help Australia to a sixth title.

It was a stunning entrance on the world stage, but Schutt believes the ups and downs of the fours years since, including time spent fighting to cement a regular spot in the Austrailan squad, have seen her evolve into a better cricketer.

"I think I’ve developed in every area," she said. "I went there pretty much unprepared, I only had two games for Australia under my belt.

"I think I fluked it a bit as the new girl on the block who no-one had seen.

"The biggest part since has been adapting to players being able to play me better and knowing how I bowl.

"I’ve learnt a lot since then. Four years is a long time."

Australia played a spin-heavy line-up during the summer, with Schutt at times the only seamer included in the Southern Stars XI.

But with coach Matthew Mott expressing a desire to return to a more traditional set up in English conditions likely to be conducive to the seamers, the Southern Australian is looking forward to having some pace allies in the UK.

"It was flattering to be the only pace bowler picked in some games, but I’m looking forward to having my mates back around me," Schutt said.

"We try hard to be a scary, intimidating unit, so the more we can do that in a game the better.

"England is known to swing a bit and that’s what I like to do, so hopeful I can get wrist in the right position to get the ball moving while I’m over there."

Australia’s 15-player World Cup squad will depart for the UK on June 10, where they’ll spend a week acclimatising in Southampton ahead of their first warm-up match against South Africa in Oakham on June 20.