Meg Lanning set to play for Victoria in first game for six months
Meg Lanning hasn’t played for more than six months but is set for her cricketing return on Thursday.
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More than six months after she last played a game, Australian captain Meg Lanning is set to make her cricketing return on Thursday.
Lanning stepped away from the game for “personal reasons” after leading Australia to Commonwealth Games gold in August, having won the ODI World Cup earlier in 2022 amid a hectic international schedule.
Her Australian return was locked in when Lanning was named captain of the Australian squad to take on Pakistan from January 16.
But the WNCL one-day clash between Victoria and NSW at the Junction Oval is expected to mark her playing return.
Lanning missed a recent tour of India, and the WBBL and will slip back in as just a player, not skipper, having handed the Victorian captaincy duties to Sophie Molineux.
A knee injury to Molineux means Nicole Faltum, who took over for Lanning as captain of the Stars, will lead the Vics.
Lanning will be joined by Aussie teammates Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland, having declared in a social media post that she was “refreshed and ready to play the game that I love” having spent time travelling during her extended break.
“I cant wait to be out on the field again against Pakistan. Sometimes you just have to hit pause, step back and take a breather. That’s certainly what I needed,” the 30-year-old posted on Instagram.
“The past 6 months have taught me a lot. I’ve learnt so much about myself and who and what is important to me. I’ve always played my cards pretty close to my chest.
“This experience has given me a greater appreciation of how opening up and talking to the people that care about you really can make the tough times feel easier.
Meg Lanning about the learnings had during her break
— WomensCricCrazeðŸ (@WomensCricCraze) December 24, 2022
ðŸ—£ï¸ "The past 6 months taught me a lot" pic.twitter.com/Bl7jmxuivb
“It’s OK to ask for help and admit that you don’t have everything under control. Having enjoyed some time and space, I feel refreshed and ready to play the game that I love in teams that I love. It’s such an exciting time for the game and I can’t wait to be part of it.”
National selector Shawn Flegler said Lanning was “all in” for her return, which includes, in the immediate future, the series against Pakistan then the defence of Australia’s T20 World Cup title in South Africa in February.
“Knowing the person she is and the preparation she’s put into her career, she’s not going to come back halfway; it’s all in for Meg,” he said.
Australia will play three ODIs and three T20s against Pakistan.
Originally published as Meg Lanning set to play for Victoria in first game for six months
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