Follow UsIn a sudden and shocking decision, 31-year-old Meg Lanning has called it a day from international cricket effective immediately. The Australian skipper was unavailable for the Women’s Ashes and then the Ireland series.
While she was expected to be part of the team for the West Indies limited-overs series, the 31-year-old did not take part in the bilateral series, instead returning to Victoria for WNCL cricket.
Lanning is currently leading the Melbourne Stars unit in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) and looks set to continue playing domestic cricket. The 31-year-old insisted that it is the right time for her to move away from the sport, allowing others to take up the mantle.
Emotional scenes at the MCG as Meg Lanning reflects on a peerless 13-year career in international cricket 🥺 pic.twitter.com/MCdkQcHGXI
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 9, 2023
"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.
Read: Meg Lanning, the architect behind the Australian dynasty
Having made her debut as an 18–year–old, Lanning is one of the most decorated Australian cricketers, having played 241 clashes for the country, including six Tests, 103 ODIs and 132 T20Is. Not just that, as a captain too, Lanning is perhaps the most decorated captain in Australian cricketing history, with four T20 World Cup titles, one 50-over World Cup and a gold in the Commonwealth Games.
"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."
Lanning also insisted that she was "relieved" to have announced retirement, considering how the sport has taken a hit on her mental health, with multiple breaks over the past two years.
"I've come to the realisation that I've probably been trying to convince myself a little bit over the last 18 months why I should keep playing and what it is that I want to achieve," Lanning said.
"I'm not someone who can do things half-in half-out. I've battled away a little bit trying to work all that out. But it sort of became quite clear, particularly over the last couple of days that this was the right call and what I'm ready for.
"Since I've made the decision I've certainly felt a little bit relieved, I guess, to have made a call and be a little bit clearer on what the next little bit looks like."
Cricket Australia’s CEO Nick Hockley, too, showered his praise on Lanning, stating that she is one of the ‘finest cricketers’ that the country has ever seen.
"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,” Hockley said.