Star Australia player Meg Lanning announced her retirement from international cricket after having an incredible 13-year-long career. At 31, Lanning led Australia in 182 international matches in her career spanning 241 matches.
However, she is currently leading Melbourne Stars in the WBBL 2023. Meg Lanning announced her retirement effective immediately calling it “the right time” to leave as well.
“The decision to step away from international cricket was a difficult one to make, but I feel now is the right time for me. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to enjoy a 13-year international career, but I know now is the right time for me to move on to something new. Team success is why you play the game, I’m proud of what I have been able to achieve and will cherish the moments shared with teammates along the way,” Lanning said in a statement.
“I’d like to thank my family, my teammates, Cricket Victoria, Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association for their support to allow me to play the game I love at the highest level,” she again said. “I also want to say a huge thank you to all the fans who have supported me throughout my international career.”
Meg Lanning debuted in 2010 as an 18-year-old, starting with the shortest format first. She has so far played 132 T20Is and 103 ODIs and 6 Test matches as well. Lanning, who first led Australia in 2014, has become one of the most successful captains in women’s cricket. Her record as captain includes 69 wins out of 78 ODIs, 76 wins in 100 T20Is and a Test victory as well in the four Tests that she led Australia. She led her team to four T20 World Cup titles, one ODI World Cup and the Commonwealth Games gold last year.
However, since the Commonwealth Games, Meg Lanning took a break from action and missed several series. She wasn’t part of the Australian setup for this year’s tours of England, Ireland and also a home series against the West Indies as well. She had also missed Australia’s tour of India in 2022, due to a six-month break.
“I feel now is the right time for me” – Meg Lanning
While Alyssa Healy was named the interim captain at that time, Australia will now look for a permanent new captain as they are all set for a multi-format tour to India next month.
Among her several records as a batter, Meg Lanning is the youngest player to score an international century (104* vs England in Perth in 2011, age 18 and 288 days) and she also holds the record for the fastest hundred for Australia in Women’s ODIs (45-ball 100 against New Zealand in 2012 in Sydney).
Meg Lanning also led Delhi Capitals at the inaugural Women’s Premier League earlier this year, finishing as runners-up as well. Brought by the franchise at INR 1.1 Crore, the star player has been retained ahead of the auctions for the second edition and she is likely to continue playing franchise and domestic cricket.
Applauding her contributions to Australian cricket, Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said: “One of the finest cricketers Australia has produced, Meg’s supreme achievements with the bat have been matched by her inspiring leadership. As one of the best players in the world over a long period of time, Meg has made an immeasurable impact and led a generation which has helped revolutionise the game.”
“Under Meg’s leadership, the Australian women’s cricket team has built a legacy of global dominance and has been at the forefront of growing the game and inspiring the next generation of cricketers all around the world. A seven-time World Cup winner and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Meg retires from international cricket having achieved everything there is to achieve and we thank her for the immense contribution she has made. We look forward to celebrating Meg’s distinguished international career at an appropriate time,” Hockley further added.
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