This was published 1 year ago
‘Nothing left to achieve’: Australian great Lanning retires from international cricket
By Andrew Wu and Greg Dundas
An emotional Meg Lanning has retired from international cricket, saying she has nothing left to give or achieve on the world stage.
Cricket Australia is now searching for a new skipper of its all-conquering national women’s team after Lanning, who has lifted more international trophies than any other, bowed out from the top level at the relatively young age of 31. She will continue to play in the WNCL, WBBL and the Women’s Premier League in India.
She leaves with seven World Cup victories, five as captain – more than any other leader in cricket history – and Commonwealth Games gold. She also led her country to three Ashes wins, plus the successful defence of the urn in 2017-18.
“I’ve achieved so much within the game, I’ve been lucky enough to have such a successful career and be part of very successful teams,” Lanning said on Thursday outside the MCG, the scene of her favourite moment – where she led Australia to a memorable Twenty20 World Cup triumph in 2020 in front of 86,174 fans.
“I guess I feel like now I’ve got nothing left to achieve on the international stage. For me I can’t be half in or half out with anything. I guess that’s where I’ve landed with this decision.
“I no longer have the spark or motivation to do what’s needed at this level. For me, it’s time to move on. I’m very excited about that.”
Debuting at 18, three-time Belinda Clark medallist Lanning was one of the best players of her generation. She departs having scored more one-day international centuries (15) than any other woman, her average of 53.5 the best of her contemporaries (with a minimum 20 innings).
Her 4602 ODI runs place her eighth among all-comers – only Clark and Karen Rolton have scored more for Australia – and her 3405 T20 international runs are second behind only New Zealand’s Suzie Bates.
Appointed captain of the national team at the tender age of 21, Lanning led Australia through a golden era, winning 80 per cent of the games in which she was skipper, including a winning streak of 26 ODIs over a three-year period from 2018.
Her retirement may come as a shock for casual watchers of the game, but the writing has been on the wall for well over a year now, even if she tried her hardest to ignore it.
Lanning was emotional as she announced her retirement from international cricket.Credit: Getty Images
Lanning took time out of the game in August last year after leading Australia to victory in the Commonwealth Games, and missed this year’s Ashes and the start of the international season at home due to an undisclosed medical condition. Holding aloft the Twenty20 World Cup in Cape Town in February proved to be her final duty for her country.
“I’ve come to the realisation that I’ve been trying to convince a little bit the last 18 months why I should keep playing and what it is I want to achieve,” Lanning said.
“I’ve battled away a little bit trying to work all that out. It became quite clear, particularly over the last couple of days, this was the right call and what I’m ready for. It’s time.
Meg Lanning with the 2022 World Cup trophy.Credit: Getty Images
“Since I made the decision, I’ve felt relieved to have made a call and be a bit clearer what the next little bit looks like. Let things play out a little bit before seeing where it goes. I’m excited for something new and something different.”
Lanning’s time away from the game and team she had devoted herself to for 13 years allowed her to experience life outside the cricket bubble – and she liked what she saw.
“It’s very consuming,” Lanning said of the rigours of international cricket. “To a certain extent for a long period that worked for me and probably why I had so much success. I gave everything I had to try and do as well as I could.
“Just being able to step back a little bit has been a big learning experience, opened my eyes to the big wide world outside of cricket. There’s so much out there which I can’t wait and go and experience and see what happens.”
She openly cried twice, poignantly, when thanking her parents and in explaining how much she would miss playing for her country.
Lanning will not be lost to the game yet. She is in the first year of a three-year deal with the Melbourne Stars in the WBBL which she intends to honour and will play in the WNCL and the Women’s Premier League in India.
Lanning said she will miss the adrenalin rush that comes with playing in big series and major tournaments but less so the commitments and sacrifices needed to get there. Accustomed to having her life planned, she will now embrace the unknown with excitement.
“Scary too,” Lanning said. “There’s so much structure in cricket, you know where to be all the time, your weeks are planned, you don’t make too many decisions yourself.
“Over the last 18 months, I’ve experienced stepping back, getting out of that bubble a little bit. I don’t think it’s as big a jump as it might seem. I’ve been there for a little while.
“It takes a bit of getting used to because it’s very different. Not really knowing what the future holds and the unknown is scary but I think it’s an experience and something I’m ready to go out and see what happens.”
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