Australian Captain Meg Lanning has bid a farewell to her 13-year-old cricketing career with a sudden retirement at the age of 31. Her decision is said to be Final and she is all set to leave International cricket but Lanning is expected to keep playing in the Australian domestic circuit.
She is currently Captaining the Melbourne Stars in the on-going Women’s Big Bash League 2023. Melbourne are currently 7th in the points table winning just Twice in 8 matches. Lanning has been a part of many title winning ICC campaigns with Australia and she is truly a “GOAT” in Women’s cricket history.
🏏🇦🇺 “I grew up wanting to represent Australia… to be able to do it for 13 years has been an incredible opportunity.”
Meg Lanning announces her retirement from international cricket as one of Australia’s most decorated players.
Read more: https://t.co/tiIY1gUYjm pic.twitter.com/HEzb3HBb9A
— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) November 9, 2023
Meg Lanning last played for Australia earlier this year in February during the ICC Women’s T20 World cup at South Africa. She led the Aussie Women to their 5th World T20 title after beating South Africa women in the Final.
ONE OF THE MOST PAINFUL & HEARTBREAK VIDEO IN CRICKET HISTORY…!!!!!
Meg Lanning got very emotional and tears in her eyes when she announces her retirement – Chin up, Meg, You're the GOAT of Women's Cricket history. pic.twitter.com/5I4iWIDADq
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) November 9, 2023
The 31-year-old hasn’t played any game for the Kangaroos since then and missed consecutive series against England away and West Indies at home. Lanning had an undisclosed illness during the UK tour but despite being fit for the home series against the Windies, Meg Lanning did not feature.
“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.”
Nicknamed, “the Mega star”, Meg Lanning since a very young age had the spark of achieving greatness. In 2011 on her 2nd ODI match, she became the Youngest Australian ever (Male and Female) to score an ODI century at 18 years and 288 days.
4 years later in 2014, Cricket Australia having recognized the talent she possessed, Lanning was made the Captain of Australia women. At 21-years, she became the youngest Aussie captain overtaking from Jodie Fields.
In 2012, she was a part of the Australian team that won its maiden ICC Women’s T20 World title followed by a maiden ICC CWC in 2013. And ever since she became the Captain in 2014, Australia won silverwares after silverwares.
She led Australia to win back-to-back 4 ICC World T20 titles in 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2023. Meg Lanning was also pivotal for the Aussies in winning the Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2022. Individually, the 31-year-old has won the Women’s T20I and ODI cricketer of the year in 2014 and 2015.
In 2015, she was named as the Wisden Leading cricketer of the year. Meghann Moira Lanning leaves the International circuit after scoring 8352 runs across all 3 formats. In Test cricket, she has 345 runs in 12 innnings, in ODIs Lanning has 4602 runs in 102 innings. In the shortest format, she has 3405 runs in 121 innings.
Meg Lanning was famous for her aggressive style of batting and had an in-built never give up raw Australian attitude. She has inspired many young Women aspirants around the world but her retirement will definitely open the door for new talents to continue the legacy of Australian Cricket.
