Sharp Schutt ready to fire

Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars quick Megan Schutt has set her sights on bowling faster than ever as she takes the first tentative steps back to the bowling crease following a four-month lay-off with tendinitis in the knees.

Schutt, who hasn't played since the Stars lost the World T20 final to the West Indies on April 3, has been hard at work in the rehab facilities of the Bupa National Cricket Centre (NCC) – to the point that if she never sees another exercise bike, it just might be too soon.

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"It's a long-term, slow rehabilitation injury," Schutt explained to cricket.com.au. "It was at its worst in January during the India series and became a maintenance thing for the next few tours after that – heavy strapping, treatment, icing after any movement really.

"Once we finished the (T20) World Cup they said, 'We've got a long process ahead of us'. 

"Unfortunately I had to pull out of the (UK) Super League and I was given a six-week gym program that involved six sessions a week, which was cardio-based – swimming and bike. And I'm very sick of the bike.

"But I got reassessed last Friday and given the all clear to start bowling again – very heavily watched, but it's nice to be outside again."

And that news should ring a few alarm bells for batters around the country, particularly as Schutt has targeted extra pace and intimidation as key additions to a bowling skill-set that already includes one of the most lethal inswingers in women's cricket.

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The 23-year-old sees a full pre-season – and the potential to up the ante on the radar gun – as silver linings to the enforced layoff, allowing her a full pre-season, which is a luxury she hasn't enjoyed for three years.

"I'm already the strongest I've ever been, which is the plus side of (the rehab work)," said Schutt, who is based in Brisbane and thus has generally good weather and the world-class facilities of the NCC to work with.

"It's nice to have a good solid base to work from.

"I'd like to add a good 5kph on, that would be beautiful.

"I'd love to be more intimidating, and that's the goal with my bowling coach Joe Dawes – him and I would like me to get a bit quicker so if that can come from me being injured, then it's a blessing in disguise."

Schutt's regular pace is around 110kph – fast enough to see her top the wicket-takers list in last summer's WNCL with 14 victims in seven matches at 17.35 and the impressive economy rate of 3.80.

But she wants more.

"My simple goal is to better each season. So for WNCL I'd like to be the leading wicket-taker again, and take even more wickets than I did last summer – 15, 16 plus is what I want and I think what you need to be the leader of your side anyway," she explained.

"I'd like to get up to 115(kph), that's my goal. I don't mind not being the fastest bowler in the world, but I'd just like to have that extra pace, bowl a few more bouncers and be a bit more of an intimidating fast bowler."

And while Schutt may be keen to add a nasty streak to her reputation, the right-arm quick has already proven she's plenty tough.

Despite the pain in her knees, she battled through six matches of the World T20 in a desperate bid to help defend Australia's title.

Schutt admits today that she may have offered a degree of misdirection to support staff as to how her knees were holding up, but her performances – she was the Stars' leading wicket-taker with seven in six matches, including a crucial 2-15 in the semi-final against England – justified her refusal to let the pain get the better of her.

"As an athlete you do sometimes lie about how things feel because you want to play," she said simply.

"In a World Cup, you're kind of going to go through anything as long as you get to play.

"If I thought I was going to inhibit the team I probably wouldn't, but at the same time it wasn't too much of a hindrance for me while I was bowling – it was more so afterwards that it would be very sore.

"After the game I probably couldn't walk for a while and things like that, but during a game, if I strapped it enough I was playing at probably 70-80 per cent and I was still able to run full pelt."

Schutt insists that the unfamiliar pain of defeat is already a motivating factor as Australia eye their next shot at a world title – the 50-over version in England next year.

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But the next item on the agenda is righting what she views as a wrong from the 2015-16 summer; her performances, and that of the Adelaide Strikers, in the inaugural Women's Big Bash League.

"I thought I had a pretty crappy WBBL tournament to be fair," she said, having taken 10 wickets in 14 matches as Adelaide finished second from bottom.

"I didn't hit the right lengths and probably got knocked around for too many runs, so I just want to improve and help us get to the finals.

"I've been probably our strike bowler for the last few years now and I see myself as one of the leaders of the team, especially the bowling group.

"If I can lead the way in the T20 format as well, I think it'll help bring up everybody … it's a team sport but it's the most individual team sport there is, so I know I have to step up my game this WBBL."