Schutt rewarded with climb to No.1 ranking

Australia pace bowler Megan Schutt has capped off a memorable summer by climbing to the summit of the ICC women's T20I bowling rankings.

Schutt, who completed a stellar tour of India with figures of 3-13 in the tri-series final against England, jumped into top spot ahead of Kiwi Leigh Kasperek.

It is the second time she has held the lofty position, having briefly been number one last November, while she also sits at No.2 on the ODI bowling rankings.

The 25-year-old South Australian was named player of the tri-series after taking nine wickets at 12.33, including the first ever T20I hat-trick by an Australian.

Even more importantly, she finished with an economy rate of just 6.28 runs per over, far and away the lowest from anyone across the three competing teams; of the 13 bowlers in the series who sent down more than 10 overs, the next best was 7.18 (by teammate Ash Gardner).

"Unexpected was a better word," Schutt laughed when asked if she was pleased to claim player-of-the-series in a series where the runs flowed.

"T20 cricket is a lot about economy rate and I was just trying to use the conditions as much as I could and take as much pace off the ball as I could."

She might have been surprised, but Schutt's recent form tells a compelling tale of a bowler finding the peak of her powers.

Schutt was unlucky not to be named player of the series in the multi-format Ashes last November after taking 18 wickets in seven matches at 15.16.

She's carried that form with her to the subcontinent, where she took four wickets at 28.75 in the ODIs series but bowled at an economy rate of just 3.87.

Australia captain Meg Lanning could not be happier knowing she can throw Schutt the ball when the pressure is on, be that in the powerplay, the middle overs or at the death.

"I think Megan is always willing to adapt her game and try new things," Lanning said. "We've been forced to do that. As a bowler in these conditions, you need to be able to take that head on and be proactive and that's been the best thing; Megan's been willing to try things we haven't done before, trusting we've got the plans and if you execute, it works really well.

"That's the key, she's been able to execute more often than not."

Lanning's own stellar T20I series – in which she hammered 175 runs without being dismissed – has seen her climb into No.3 on the T20I batters list.