AUS-W vs SA-W: Megan Schutt picks up new role in order to protect incoming batters from afternoon sun

As the South Africa Women's tour of Australia 2024 is underway in the sunny setting of Perth, Megan Schutt, who is not featuring in the one-off Test, has taken up a new role, one far from her usual exploits on the field. Schutt has taken upon herself the task of shielding the incoming batters from the scorching afternoon sun, using towels to create a shield against the relentless sun.

Australia Women's dominance in the ongoing series is visible having already clinched victories in the preceding ODI and T20I series and looking to grab the one-off Test. 

Megan Schutt takes up a new role

The sight of Schutt meticulously arranging towels to shield her teammates from the harsh sun rays speaks volumes about the values ingrained within the sport. Despite not being in the playing XI for the day, her commitment to the team's well-being and her willingness to go beyond the call of duty showed her sportsmanship.

Having missed out on being part of the XI, the 31-year-old cricketer has had an average performance in the series. Playing all three matches of the T20I series and two games of the ODI series, Megan picked up five wickets. 

In the Test match between Australia Women and South Africa Women in Perth, Australia Women dominated the opening day. After choosing to field first, Australia's bowlers, led by Darcie Brown's impressive 5-wicket haul, restricted South Africa to a mere 76 runs in their first innings. None of the South African batters managed to make a significant impact, with Sune Luus being the top scorer with 26 runs.

 In response, Australia Women showcased a strong batting display, with Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy scoring crucial half-centuries. Mooney's 78 and Healy's 99 have put Australia in a commanding position. The hosts wrapped up the day on 251 runs after losing their five wickets and have a lead of 175 runs. South Africa has an uphill battle to bounce back in the remainder of the match.

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