Australia pacer Megan Schutt confirms 2026 T20 WC will be her final ICC event
New Delhi, May 25
Australia pacer Megan Schutt on Monday confirmed that the upcoming 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup will be her last major tournament. Megan made her international debut in 2012 and has picked 309 wickets in 240 games across the three formats.
"Hungry is one word and for me it's revenge, or spite ... it's definitely one I want to go and win. I'm competitive in everything I do, which is a good and a bad thing, the last two have stung and, after being part of a lot of success, it stings even more. But then you think of the kids that haven't won a World Cup; it's a good reminder I've been lucky and want to restart that with the next generation," Schutt told AAP on Monday.
Though Megan admitted that she has not mapped out her retirement date, she acknowledged the packed cricketing calendar would eventually force her to step aside. "I'm not much of a planner; I like to go with the flow. But with how often World Cups are, and everything in between, there's always a carrot that gets dangled and eventually you have to make a decision.
"I don't see myself getting to another ICC tournament, that's for sure. I've had my time and it's about letting that next generation take over. I don't want to be that person that stays longer than I should and drag the team down without realising. I like to think I'm pretty self aware; I can physically keep up but there are people coming through capable of doing what I do," she added.
Australia are aiming for a record-extending seventh Women's T20 World Cup crown and will begin their campaign against South Africa on June 13 in Manchester. They will also play three practice matches against South Africa in England, starting from May 31, before taking on hosts England and West Indies in warm-up games in Cardiff ahead of the competition.
— IANS
Reader Comments
"Revenge or spite" - I love that competitive spirit! Schutt has been such a consistent performer for Australia. As an Indian fan, I hope our bowlers like Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar take inspiration from her longevity. It's rare to see fast bowlers in women's cricket last this long without major injuries. Hats off to her fitness and self-awareness.
Megan Schutt is a class act. I've been following her career since the early days and she's been the backbone of Australia's pace attack for over a decade. It's refreshing to see an athlete with such self-awareness admit when it's time to move on. 309 wickets is an incredible achievement in women's cricket. All the best for her final World Cup campaign!
Honestly, I think it's a bit early for her to call it quits from ICC tournaments. She's still only 32 and bowling well. But I respect her decision to not overstay her welcome - that's something many male cricketers in India could learn from! The packed calendar is brutal these days. Would be great to see her end her ICC career with another trophy though. 🏆
She's been such a consistent performer for Australia. I think her bowling in the powerplay and death overs has been underrated because the batting stars get more attention. 309 wickets across formats is no joke. It's good she's being honest about her timeline - too many players keep going past their prime. Best of luck to her and the Aussie team!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.