Kristy's Journalism Portfolio

Aussie cricket superstar Megan Schutt has a simple answer when people question why LGBTQI+ athletes come out or share their lives on social media like any straight person would: because 'there's still some kids who would rather be dead than gay'. The 30-year-old fast bowler, who is married with one child, has always been one of Australia's most outspoken female athletes when it comes to inclusivity and gay rights – and the fact she is about to lead the side's attack into a T20 World Cup semi-final isn't changing that. It means she is often squarely in the firing line for trolls on social media, which she often acknowledges and calls out. But this isn't a case of water off a duck's back. It's more like a mighty duck donning a helmet and wading into battle armed, determined to turn the tide of homophobia that still runs rampant through sport.

The Cambridge Cats played the perfect grand final on Saturday afternoon at Woodward Oval, thrashing the Parkes Colts by 123 runs as they won the 2020/21 Lachlan Premier Cricket competition.

Parkes cricketer Maddy Spence has been selected to represent the Sydney Thunder at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup to celebrate NAIDOC week. The Thunder will take on rivals the Sydney Sixers, with games to be played at Raby Sports Complex in Sydney on Dharawal country this Thursday and Friday.

The opening round of WBBL05 kicked off this weekend, and the first stand-alone tournament for the women was a resounding success. Prior to the season beginning, WBBL05 was promising to be the closest yet, and given the fluctuating fortunes for the six sides involved in the opening round this would appear to clearly be the case.

Once again the Sixers start the WBBL as favourites, and given the incredible star power at their disposal, it isn’t hard to see why. They have two of the best players of their generation, a South African duo that is somehow still criminally underrated and a couple of homegrown off-spinning allrounders that can change a game with bat or ball. The club culture cultivated by Jodie Hawkins, Ben Sawyer and co. is nothing short of sensational.

Queensland, and the Brisbane Heat, have a proud history of success- and with a couple of promising New Zealand additions to the squad, it may well join the Sydney Sixers in securing back-to-back titles. Six of the squad are internationals, with Sammy-Jo Johnson also in the frame for Australia, and there is no shortage of fire power in this squad. They’ll bring the heat again, no doubt.

WBBL04 was another disappointing season for the Strikers, but with a new coach (former assistant coach Luke Williams) and several promising additions to the squad, things are looking up for this season.

After coming within a whisker of a maiden Grand Final, the Melbourne Renegades will be out for revenge in WBBL05. There are a couple of big omissions from last season, with young speedster Tayla Vlaeminck off to Hobart and skipper Amy Satterthwaite off to have a baby. Their loss will be offset somewhat by the addition of English opener Tammy Beaumont, but they’ll be relying on their stingy bowling line-up to keep up with the top teams. How much of a loss will the veteran skipper be in the field?

Sydney’s glamour side, the Sixers, have a fantastic BBL record. In the six editions of the tournament, the Sixers have missed the finals just twice; appearing in the grand final three times for one win.

The Adelaide Strikers were mediocre, at best, in BBL|06, and they will be up against it to improve on their sixth place performance this season. The Melbourne Renegades pilfered their playing ranks, taking captain Brad Hodge and four other players. Ben Dunk, the leading run scorers for the Strikers last season and BBL|03 Player of the Tournament, departs for the Melbourne Stars and is replaced by South African, Colin Ingram.

3rd will be hosting 2nd, as the WBBL finals get underway at the new Optus Stadium in Perth. The Thunder started WBBL|03 off with a bang, smacking 200 in the opening match after a whirlwind last eight overs saw 120 runs scored.

After being crowned the inaugural WBBL winners, sharing the spoils with their male counterparts, the Thunder failed to move forward like the rest of the competition did. There hasn’t been much happening on the recruiting front once again, with the only big name coming in Rachel Priest, and the only big departure, offie Erin Osborne.

Despite winning a WNCL title (and making the grand final on the other occasion) over the past few years, the Strikers have unfortunately been somewhat of a laughing stock in the WBBL, ending up with the wooden spoon last year and finishing second last in the opening instalment. With the league’s most explosive batter in Sophie Devine, it is mind boggling how bad the batting has been- with a series of perplexing selection decisions and a general lack of depth, meaning the side only had an average run-rate of 5.9 RPO. WBBL|03 is a new season however, and with a change of captaincy and a willingness to avoid the selection conservatism that has always plagued South Australian cricket, it seems the Strikers are finally ready to surge up the table.

Perennial overachievers, the Hobart Hurricanes have shown great heart in the two opening instalments of the WBBL. One would think that ends right here.

It was the much anticipated grand final rematch, and the Scorchers exacted their revenge as they cruised to a nine-wicket victory over the Sixers in Wollongong on Tuesday. After both sides got their WBBL|03 campaigns off to explosive starts at North Sydney, the Sixers, unfortunately, forgot to pack their fireworks for the trip south. The pace/spin combination of Katherine Brunt and Emma King stymied any of the attacking flair seen from the opening round.

The Brisbane Heat demolished the Adelaide Strikers for the second time in three days, this time by eight wickets, in the WBBL’s New Year’s Eve blockbuster at Adelaide Oval. Beth Mooney was again the star, effortlessly compiling an unbeaten 81 off only 48 balls.

The Adelaide Strikers returned to the winners list on Friday with a gritty 22-run win over the seventh-placed Melbourne Stars at Casey Fields. While the momentum fluctuated throughout, it was the Strikers who owned the key moments through clear leadership and a hunger that permeated through the entire team.

There are no words to adequately describe the Melbourne Renegades thrilling Super Over win over the Sydney Sixers in Geelong today. It took a cheeky extra run from Sarah Aley on the last ball of the game to push the match to a Super Over, after wicketkeeper, Emma Inglis, celebrated the victory too early; but in the end it was not enough to get the Sixers over the line.