In a surprising turn of events, Australia Women’s cricket captain Meg Lanning has left the cricketing world in shock by announcing her immediate retirement from international cricket. Lanning, a true legend in the world of women’s cricket, has had an illustrious career with numerous records and accolades to her name.
Meg Lanning, at the age of 31, leaves the cricketing world as a two-time ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup champion and a five-time ICC Women’s T20 World Cup winner. Her impact on Australian cricket is immeasurable.
Lanning’s career statistics are awe-inspiring, with over 8000 runs across all formats for her country. Her consistency and ability to perform under pressure have been the backbone of the Australian women’s cricket team.
Lanning’s decision to retire was not an easy one. In her own words, “The decision to step away from international cricket was a difficult one to make, but I feel now is the right time for me.” Her choice reflects the depth of her commitment to the sport and her desire to explore new avenues.
She further added, “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’s passion for the game and her team’s success have been intertwined throughout her career.
Lanning expressed her gratitude to her family, teammates, Cricket Victoria, Cricket Australia, and the Australian Cricketers’ Association for their unwavering support that allowed her to excel at the highest level. She also thanked the fans for their continued support throughout her international career.
Lanning concluded, “I’d like to thank my family, my teammates, Cricket Victoria, Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association for their support in allowing me to play the game I love at the highest level. I also want to say a huge thank you to all the fans who have supported me throughout my international career.”
Lanning’s journey to becoming captain began with her first ICC title at the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2012, followed by a triumphant win at the 50-over World Cup in India the next year.
She took over as captain in 2014, a role she embraced with excellence, leading her country on 182 occasions. Under her leadership, Australia clinched five ICC titles, marking a golden era for Australian women’s cricket.
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Lanning’s exceptional leadership earned her recognition as the ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year in 2014 and the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year the following year.
Her fearless leadership led Australia to a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, adding another feather to her cap.
Lanning’s career boasts a total of 17 international centuries, with 15 of them coming in the 50-over format. Her career-best of 152* against Sri Lanka in Bristol in 2017 is a testament to her skill and dedication.
With 15 centuries in women’s ODI cricket, Lanning holds the record, with New Zealand’s Suzie Bates as her closest rival with 12 centuries.
Lanning’s farewell match was a fitting one, as she led her country to victory in the T20 World Cup earlier this year in South Africa. It was a perfect ending to an extraordinary career, sealing her legacy as one of the greatest cricketers of all time.
