Australian Women’s Skipper Meg Lanning Announces Retirement from International Cricket

Australian Women’s Skipper Meg Lanning Announces Retirement from International Cricket: Meg Lanning, who’s now 31 years old, made a sudden decision to step down from international cricket. Throughout a career spanning 241 matches and 13 years, Lanning led Australia in 182 international matches. Lanning, who is now captain of the Melbourne Stars in the WBBL, declared her retirement with immediate effect, citing this as “the right time” to give it up.

“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.

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“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 said. “I also want to say a huge thank you to all the fans who have supported me throughout my international career.”

In 2012, Lanning won her maiden ICC title in the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. The following year, in 2013, she triumphed in the 50-over World Cup in India.

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Lanning has taken several breaks from cricket in recent seasons for a variety of issues. In 2022, following Australia’s Commonwealth Games triumph, she took a leave of absence from the game and worked as a barista at a local coffee shop in Melbourne. She missed Australia’s tour in India in December of that year before returning for the build-up to the 2023 T20 World Cup.

Meg Lanning’s records

In six Tests, Lanning scored 345 runs at an average of 31.36, with a best individual score of 93, with two half-centuries.

In 103 ODIs, she scored 4,602 runs at an average of 53.51. Lanning scored 15 centuries and 21 fifties in 102 innings, with the best score of 152*, ANI reported.

Lastly, in 132 T20Is, Lanning scored 3,405 runs in 121 innings at an average of 36.61 and a strike rate of above 116. She scored two centuries and 15 fifties, with the best score of 133*.