Australian captain Meg Lanning could return for WBBL season

Australian captain Meg Lanning is tracking “really well” and could soon make a return to cricket, a teammate says.

Absent Australian captain Meg Lanning could return from a second extended break due to health reasons in time for the WBBL season.

The star batter has regularly visited Cricket Victoria’s Junction Oval headquarters during the off-season, and her Melbourne Stars teammates hope she could return to cricket for the WBBL in October.

Lanning was ruled out of the Ashes four weeks before the opening Test in June on the advice of CA medical staff due to an undisclosed illness.

She had only just returned from a self-imposed four-month mental health break to lead Australia to its T20 World Cup triumph in March and then play in the inaugural Women’s Premier League in India.

Lanning recently spent a week embedded in Collingwood’s AFL program as a professional development opportunity.

Australian teammate Ellyse Perry said Lanning was “tracking well”, but was yet to reveal if or when she would return to cricket.

Ellyse Perry says she knows ‘nothing concrete’ about Australian captain Meg Lanning’s future but hopes she keeps ‘tracking really well’ in her recovery from illness. Picture: William West / AFP

“I don’t have anything concrete around Meg, other than I see Meg around,” Perry said.

“She’s obviously got the full support of the playing squad and all her teammates at Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia.

“From Meg’s point of view, she’ll keep tracking hopefully really well and hopefully be available for cricket if and when she wants to be.”

Perry recommitted to the Sydney Sixers for the next two WBBL seasons on Thursday, saying she never considered leaving the club she has captained since its first season despite changing state sides from NSW to Victoria four years ago.

“I didn’t discuss anything with any other clubs, there’s just that really strong sense of connection to the Sixers,” she said.

“Being involved in the club from the very start and having the opportunity to captain across those seasons as well has been wonderful.

Perry feels her bowling is at its best level in at least two years as she extends her WBBL career with the Sydney Sixers for two more seasons. Picture: Mark Kolbe / Getty Images

“There’s a number of girls that have been there from the start, I think we really value that connection that we’ve got.”

Perry suffered a knee injury in an ODI against Ireland last month which led to her withdrawal from the English Hundred competition, with the 32-year-old appointed captain of the Birmingham Phoenix.

She said it was a disappointing setback but her recovery had gone smoothly, as a strong bowling load awaits this summer.

“I’ve been doing some rehab for the last couple of weeks and it’s tracking really well – it was a real bummer to miss out on The Hundred, particularly off the back of The Ashes and just the momentum being built around cricket over there,” Perry said.

“But it’s been nice to be home … I’ve had a really great chance to work with (Australian fast bowling coach) Scotty Prestwidge to tweak a few things, and I actually feel like I’m probably bowling better than I have in the last couple of years.”