In a surprising decision, Meg Lanning announced her retirement from international cricket at the age of 31. Leading Australia in 182 international matches out of 241 played over 13 years, Lanning has been a stalwart for the team. Currently captaining the Melbourne Stars in the WBBL, Lanning promptly declared her retirement, stating that it is the “right time” to step down.
“Deciding to step away from international cricket was challenging, but I believe it’s the right time for me now. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to enjoy 13 years of my international career, leading Australia in the process. While I take pride in the success we achieved as a team, I will cherish the moments shared with my teammates during this journey,” Lanning said in a statement.
Expressing gratitude, she added, “I want to thank my family, teammates, Cricket Victoria, Cricket Australia, and the Australian Cricketers’ Association for their support, enabling me to play my favourite game at the highest level.”
Meg Lanning, who started her T20I career at the age of 18 in 2010, played 132 T20Is and 103 ODIs, representing Australia in six Test matches as well. Known as one of the most successful captains in women’s cricket, she holds records of 69 wins out of 78 ODIs as captain, 76 wins in 100 T20Is, and a Test victory in the four matches she led Australia. Under her leadership, Australia secured four T20 World Cup titles, an ODI World Cup, and a gold medal in the previous Commonwealth Games.
However, after the Commonwealth Games, Meg Lanning faced setbacks, missing series against England, Ireland, and the West Indies. Opting for a six-month break, she also skipped Australia’s tour of India in 2022. With interim captain Ellyse Perry leading in her absence, Australia is now in search of a permanent captain as they prepare for the upcoming multi-format series in India next month.
Noteworthy for setting records as a batter, Meg Lanning holds the record for the youngest century in international cricket (104* against England in 2011 at the age of 18 years and 288 days) and the fastest century for Australia in women’s ODIs (45 balls against New Zealand in Sydney in 2012).
Starting the year by captaining Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League, Meg Lanning was retained by the franchise for ₹1.1 crore. Her involvement with the franchise and domestic cricket is expected to continue.
Nick Hockley, the CEO of Cricket Australia, praised Lanning’s contributions, stating, “Meg’s leadership has forged Australia’s dominance in women’s cricket globally. Over an extended period, she has had a profound impact and led a generation that brought revolution to the game.”
He added, “Celebrating Meg’s esteemed international career at the right time is something we eagerly look forward to.”