One of Australia’s greatest cricketers Meg Lanning has announced her retirement from international competition effective immediately.
Speaking to reporters at the MCG on Thursday morning, the emotional Australian captain said she felt it was the right moment to move on.
“The decision to step away from international cricket was a difficult one to make, but I feel now is the right time,” Lanning said.
“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.”
Lanning made her debut for Australia at 18 years old. During her international career, she has won seven World Cup titles.
Five of those titles were secured under her leadership, which began when she was selected as Australia’s captain at just 21 years old. This is the most World Cup victories any Australian captain has won in history.
Under her captaincy, the Australian women’s cricket team won 80 per cent of their games and 26 One Day International (ODI) matches in a row over a three-year period from 2018.
“Team success is why you play the game,” Lanning said, who captained the Australian side for a total of 182 matches.
“I’m proud of what I have been able to achieve and will cherish the moments shared with teammates along the way.”
A fiery right-hand batter, Lanning clocked up 8352 runs from her 241 international matches. She scored 17 centuries and won the prized Belinda Clark medal three times throughout her career.
Nick Hockley, CEO of Cricket Australia, said the game has lost “one of the finest cricketers Australia has produced” with Lanning’s retirement.
“Meg’s supreme achievements with the bat have been matched by her inspiring leadership,” Hockley said.
“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.
“Under Meg’s leadership, the Australian women’s cricket team has built a legacy of global dominance and has been at the forefront of growing the game and inspiring the next generation of cricketers all around the world.”
Lanning took an extended break from cricket – moving overseas and later working in a cafe in Melbourne – before returning to the game and leading Australia to a Commonwealth Games gold medal in Birmingham last year.
She also captained the side as they won the T20 World Cup in South Africa in February this year. However, she withdrew from the Ashes series in England just weeks before.
Lanning will continue playing cricket at a domestic level in Australia in the women’s BBL and the Women’s National Cricket League.
On what she plans to do after cricket, Lanning said she wasn’t sure.
“I haven’t thought about that – not at this stage. I don’t really know what the future holds, but I’m open to trying new things and see where it all lands,” she said.
“(I’ll) enjoy the bit of freedom I have now. Excitement, scary too. There is so much structure in cricket.”