News that a domestic men's one-day game was abandoned due to a dangerous North Sydney Oval pitch has been music to the ears of Australian women's fast bowler Megan Schutt.
Instead of relying on lively decks, Schutt will follow Australian men's vice-captain David Warner's lead and ramp up the on-field banter when they launch their Ashes series defence in Sunday's first one-day international in Brisbane.
NSW officials were seething and Cricket Australia launched an investigation after Victoria were awarded a controversial win in last weekend's one-day cup clash when the Bushrangers' run chase was called off due to an unsafe wicket.
But swing bowler Schutt could not have been happier ahead of Australia's historic day-night Test against world No.1 England to be played from November 9 at the same venue.
"I didn't mind seeing that at all," Schutt told AAP.
"Decks are pretty much made for batters these days so I don't mind a bit of kick in it."
However, Schutt begrudgingly admitted the pitch might not be as helpful when thrown the pink ball for next month's one-off Ashes Test against World Cup winners England.
"I didn't see the deliveries for it to be called off but they have plenty of time to prepare a different deck and North Sydney is a great ground to play cricket," she said.
It seems there will be no reprieve for England's batters, however.
Schutt said she would be taking a leaf out of Warner's book and adding some on-field spice during the Ashes.
Warner raised eyebrows when he asked umpires to give players leeway to ramp up on-field hostilities "like State of Origin" but Schutt had no problem with it.
"I try to be intimidating as it is," Schutt said.
"I try to do it more with looks, like a death stare.
"But we want to have a big presence. We are on our home soil so we want to use that to our advantage.
"And there is always banter when you go out there at a high level. It's just how you deal with it."
The Australian women have had a frustrating Ashes build-up.
One tour match was rained out without a ball being bowled while another lasted just 31 overs before the heavens opened.
They only have an intra-squad game on Friday before coach Matthew Mott finalises his line-up for Sunday's opening ODI.
It is another blow for Australia.
They suffered a shock 2017 World Cup semi-final loss to India before captain and world No.1 batter Meg Lanning (shoulder) was ruled out for the summer.
But Schutt said Australia wouldn't need too much motivation to lift for the Ashes.
"England are our biggest rival so, no matter what, we want to win," she said.
The Ashes winner will be decided on a points system after three ODIs, the pink-ball Test and three Twenty20 internationals.
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