Australia skipper Meg Lanning ready to cut loose in series opener against New Zealand
AUSTRALIAN captain Meg Lanning hopes her brilliant form for Victoria transfers onto the international stage against New Zealand on Saturday night.
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AUSTRALIAN captain Meg Lanning hopes her brilliant form for Victoria transfers onto the international stage against New Zealand on Saturday night.
Just hours after the AFL season ends, the first game of the extended international Australian summer of cricket begins as Australia take on the White Ferns in a T20 at Sydney’s North Sydney Oval.
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Lanning blasted 120 not out off 108 balls for Victoria at the weekend, while fellow Aussies Elyse Villani (106), Sophie Molineux (73, 2-31), Ellyse Perry (67, 2-31) and Alyssa Healy (85) also dominated.
“Generally, as a cricketer, you want to come in feeling good about your game and how you’re going, we've got that within the squad,” Lanning said. “Everyone at different times played really well and the squad that we put together is really exciting, it’s got some good variety.”
Lanning hoped the primetime clash before November’s T20 World Cup would attract the eyes of the nation.
“What a great opportunity to watch the Grand Final and then just sit on your coach and continue watching some cricket,” Lanning said. “We’re really excited about the opportunity. We’re hoping we can go out there and put on a show.”
The schedule provides an interesting build up for Villani and Molineux, who are both Collingwood supporters.
“We’ll have to make sure that they’re on track and don’t get too excited or upset if the result doesn’t go their way,” Lanning said.
“We were watching the prelim last Friday night and there were a few screams and yells at the TV, but I think they’ll be all right … we’ll just have to keep junior (Villani) under control.”
Victorian leg spinner Georgia Wareham is shaping as a potential debutant. She took 3-46 against Western Australia in the opening round of the domestic one-day season at the weekend.
“Her control with the ball is really good for someone that spins it a lot and her temperament is really good … and is a gun in the field,” Lanning said. “We’ve got no doubt she’ll be able to compete really well at the international level if she gets the chance.”
AUSTRALIA V NEW ZEALAND
First T20 International
North Sydney Oval
Saturday, 7.10pm
Originally published as Australia skipper Meg Lanning ready to cut loose in series opener against New Zealand