Meg Lanning’s WBBL replacement Nicole Faltum ‘learned so much’

Taking over from one of the most revered captains in Australian sport could be intimidating and that’s not lost on the Melbourne Stars skipper.

Nicole Faltum says she “can‘t help” but be slightly intimidated as she steps into arguably two of the biggest shoes in Australian cricket when the WBBL begins this week.

The Victorian vice-captain will skipper the Melbourne Stars, taking over from Australian captain Meg Lanning as she continues an indefinite break from the game that will take in at least the WBBL and possibly a tour of India in December.

At just 22, Faltum has already filled in for Lanning at Victoria, taking on significant leadership duties at a young age, as Lanning did when she took over the national captaincy at 21.

While she hasn’t reached out to Lanning for advice, Faltum, who made her own WBBL debut as a teenager, has worked closely with the former skipper for long enough to take confidence in how her own captaincy will play out when the tournament begins for her team in Mackay on Saturday.

“I’ve done loads of work with her in the past. Even last year when she was captain I did some things with her and I’ve learned off her from the last couple of years,” Faltum said on Monday.

Meg Lanning won’t be playing for the Melbourne Stars this season. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

“She’s always been someone that I’ve been able to learn off. I know her leadership approach and her style and, like I said, I’ve played under her and have been led by her.

“I haven’t reached out but I have learned so much in the past couple of years from what she has been able to provide.”

One of the key learnings for Faltum, the Stars’ keeper, is the best way to lead is to be herself, and that’s how she’s approaching a role she conceded could be intimidating taking over from a revered figure such as Lanning.

“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t (intimidating) to be honest,” she said.

“But at the same time, I’m a completely different person to Meg. We respect and support her decision, from the Melbourne Stars, we’re all supporting her and we’re all behind her.

“And for me, I think it’s just super exciting. I guess there’s no real expectation on me as such.

The Renegades’ Sarah Coyte and Sophie Molineux and the Stars’ Nicole Faltum and Annabel Sutherland have a healthy rivalry. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images for Cricket Australia

“And everyone’s different. One of my biggest things is just making sure that I’m me and I’m true to myself. I was picked for the job for a reason and that’s because of who I am, so trying to stick pretty close to that.”

The WBBL looms as one of the most competitive seasons ever, with 11 of the world’s top 18 batters playing across the eight teams and six of the top 10 bowlers.

The Stars have bolstered their squad, with classy India batter Jemimah Rodrigues and new coach Jonathan Batty, who has coached the Oval Invincibles to the title in the first two seasons of The Hundred in the UK. He’ll be the Stars’ fourth coach in the past four seasons.

Originally published as Meg Lanning’s WBBL replacement Nicole Faltum ‘learned so much’