AUSSIE CRICKETER STARTS WEDDING PLANNING FOLLOWING HISTORIC GAY MARRIAGE VOTE

Australia Women's bowler Megan Schutt is to marry her partner Jess Holyoake

A leading Australian cricketer has started wedding planning with her partner after the country overwhelmingly voted to approve gay marriage.

Megan Schutt, currently in Ashes action against England, announced the news on social media on Wednesday following the result of the postal ballot, which has been taking place Down Under for two months.

The 24-year-old seamer has been engaged to partner Jess Holyoake since June and is now looking forward to formally tie the knot as and when the Australian parliament formally passes legislation, which prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has indicated could be before Christmas.

Results released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed 61 per cent of the population voted in favour of the proposition, with 38 per cent voting against.

Nearly 80 per cent of the electorate exercised their right to have a say in the matter, which has been a topic of fierce debate in the country for weeks.

It’s a #YES 🌈 now to plan a wedding 💁🏼👰🏼 Can’t wait to marry the love of my life ❤️ #ssm #lovewins #marriageequality pic.twitter.com/Ecj7iHHsQt

— Megan Schutt (@megan_schutt) November 15, 2017

^{Megan Schutt played against England in the Women's Ashes Test}

Schutt, who moved to Brisbane last year to be with Holyoake, has previously spoken candidly about her views on the Australian government turning the topic of gay marriage into a referendum.

"All the stuff going on with the (marriage equality) plebiscite," Schutt told cricket.com.au in the summer. "It's just bulls***."

"I'd rather not get married in another country. I love Australia and I know that politicians don't truly represent our people. I want to wait until it's legal.

"It makes you feel sub-human, it really does," she said of the existing law. "No-one should feel that, whether it be for your sexual orientation or your race or anything else."

Now, however, Schutt and Holyoake can start planning a new life.

"It’s a YES now to plan a wedding," she wrote on Twitter. "Can’t wait to marry the love of my life #ssm #lovewins #marriageequality".

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