Meg Lanning set for Melbourne Stars return as training resumes in unfamiliar patterns
Australia captain Meg Lanning all but confirms she will rejoin the Melbourne Stars for the next WBBL season once the freeze on player signings lifts, saying: “In my mind, I’ve worked out what I want to do.”
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As speculation continues to swirl that Meg Lanning will leave Perth Scorchers and sign on with the Melbourne Stars for the sixth season of the Women’s Big Bash, the Australian captain has revealed she’s happy to be back in pre-season training with the Victoria state team after not hitting cricket ball for eight weeks.
But it’s strange times that face her as she comes back into cricket: social distancing rules among her Victorian teammates, uncertainty around the future format and fixture of the WBBL, no planned Australian training camps as would usually take place in Brisbane and questions over player pay cuts.
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Lanning is expected to announce that she has signed with the Melbourne Stars for next season, under new coach Trent Woodhill, as soon as Cricket Australia’s freeze on player signings is lifted.
“In my mind, I’ve worked out what I want to do,” Lanning said.
“But obviously with the embargo period still in place, nothing official can take place.”
The right-hand batter said the lure of returning home to Melbourne was strong.
“I really enjoyed my time in Perth for the three years,” she said.
“It’s just weighing up whether I’m willing to spend six weeks, or four weeks … away from home again or (being) back in Melbourne potentially.”
The Stars have struggled, languishing in the bottom two for the past three seasons, and have only five players on their books for 2020-21.
The format and timing of the upcoming WBBL campaign remains uncertain due to the COVID-19 crisis, with Big Bash clashes potentially being forced to be played in closed stadiums and the possibility of the men’s and women’s competitions realigning has been raised as a cost-saving measure.
Lanning said she was open to a return to BBL-WBBL double-headers if necessary.
The 28-year-old is also preparing to receive updated information from both Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association about what potential pay cuts could look like.
“I know the ACA received the updated financials (on Wednesday) and … I’ve got no doubt that CA and the ACA will work together to get the best result for the game and as players we’ve got full confidence in the ACA to negotiate on our behalf and make sure the game’s looked after,” she said.
And while she didn’t know how much of a pay cut the players would face, she acknowledged they were willing to do their bit as the sport faces tough financial decisions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
“As players, we understand we have to play our role and we will do that,” she said.
Lanning, who led the Aussies to their fifth T20 World Cup win at the MCG back in March, said despite the Australian squad not being able to get together as it normally would during this pre-season, she had no doubt they would nevertheless be ready for the upcoming summer, which includes hosting both New Zealand and India before heading to New Zealand for the all-important 50-over World Cup in February, 2021.
“This group’s played a lot of cricket together, has spent a lot of time together over the last few years, so we’re probably as well prepared as we can be, to (now) not spend a lot of time together … I don’t think it’s going to be an issue,” she said.
Originally published as Meg Lanning set for Melbourne Stars return as training resumes in unfamiliar patterns