After a highly successful 13-year career representing her country, Meg Lanning, the respected captain of Australia's exceptional women's cricket team, has recently announced her retirement.
Throughout her extraordinary journey, Lanning achieved an impressive seven world titles, with five of them earned under her astute leadership. Additionally, she proudly secured a gold medal in last year's Commonwealth Games. Lanning's remarkable achievements also include amassing a remarkable total of 8352 runs across various formats, making her Australia's highest run-scorer. With a total of 241 games played, including six Tests, 103 ODIs, and 132 T20s, Lanning has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the sport. In her heartfelt farewell message, she expressed that while it was a challenging decision to step away from international cricket, she believes that the timing is right for her.
Lanning's legacy will have a lasting impact not only in international cricket but also in various T20 leagues worldwide, as she plans to continue demonstrating her skills. Her absence during recent tours and a home series was due to a medical issue, indicating her forthcoming decision. Lanning stated, "I have realized that I have been trying to persuade myself for the past 18 months about the reasons to continue playing and what I aim to accomplish." She emphasized the importance of having clear intentions in her decision-making process.
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
At the young age of 18, Lanning made a remarkable debut in the international arena, establishing herself as the youngest Australian to achieve a century. This impressive feat, a formidable 104 not out against England, marked the start of an exceptional career. Following this, she went on to break records by achieving the fastest ODI century by an Australian, accomplishing it in just 45 balls against New Zealand.
Assuming the captaincy at the young age of 21, initially as a temporary solution, Lanning later embraced the role on a permanent basis in 2014. Although she experienced numerous successes during her tenure, the defeat to India in the 2017 World Cup semifinals was a rare disappointment. Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley spoke highly of Lanning's exceptional contributions, stating that she is one of Australia's finest cricketers, both in terms of her remarkable batting skills and her inspiring leadership abilities.
As Meg Lanning begins a new phase, her remarkable talent and leadership will be forever recognized as a testament to her exceptional skills. Her significant contribution has played a pivotal role in moulding and propelling the game, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.
Image Credits: ESPNcricinfo (X)
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