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.”