Meg Lanning announces retirement from international cricket

MELBOURNE: Australian women’s cricket team captain Meg Lanning has announced her retirement from international cricket at the age of 31, nearly 13 years after making her?debut.

Lanning will continue to play in domestic competitions, including the Women’s Big Bash League and the Women’s National Cricket League.

No captain in the history of cricket has lifted more World Cup trophies than Lanning, who retires as one of Australian sport’s most successful leaders. She captained Australia on 182 occasions, more than any other women’s player, and led the team to a historic five World Cup crowns.

The Australian women’s team had an 80%-win rate under Lanning’s captaincy and set the world record for consecutive wins in ODI cricket (26) between 2018 and 2021.

The seven-time World Cup winner and three-time Belinda Clark medallist amassed 8,352 runs from 241 international matches. The top-order batter scored 17 centuries across her international career.

Speaking on her retirement, Lanning said: “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.”

She made her international debut on December 30, 2010, in a T20I against New Zealand and became the youngest Australian to score a century when she scored 104 not out against England at the WACA Ground aged 18 years and 288 days. It was just her third match and second ODI. IANS

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