Meg Lanning, the captain of Australia, has announced her retirement from international cricket

Meg Lanning, the captain of the Australian women’s cricket team, has declared her retirement from international cricket at the age of 31, over 13 years after making her debut.

Lanning will keep participating in domestic leagues such as the Women’s National Cricket League and the Women’s Big Bash League.

As one of the most successful captains in Australian sport history, Lanning departs having won more World Cup titles than any other skipper in cricket history. More than any other women’s player, she captained Australia on 182 times and guided the group to an unprecedented five World Cup victories.

Under Lanning’s leadership, the Australian women’s side amassed an 80% winning percentage and, between 2018 and 2021, established a global record for the most consecutive ODI cricket victories (26).

In 241 international matches, the seven-time World Cup champion and three-time Belinda Clark medalist collected 8,352 runs. Throughout her international career, the top-order batswoman amassed 17 centuries.

“I feel like this is the right time for me to step away from international cricket, but it was a difficult decision to make,” Lanning stated in reference to her retirement. I’ve had the incredible good fortune to work internationally for 13 years, but I feel that it’s time for me to move on to something new at this moment.

“I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish and will treasure the moments shared with teammates along the way. Team success is why you play the game.”

At the age of 18 years and 288 days, she hit 104 not out against England at the WACA Ground, becoming her the youngest Australian to achieve a century. She made her international debut on December 30, 2010, in a T20I match against New Zealand. She has only played two ODIs and three matches.

When Lanning was named Australian captain at the age of 21, she had previously won the T20 and ODI World Cups (2012) and 2013, respectively, and had led the Australian women’s team to a run of unparalleled supremacy.

The graceful batter won the Belinda Clark award three times in a four-year span from 2014 to 2017, demonstrating her unwavering talent and capacity to turn in game-winning performances across all forms.

Lanning will go down as one of cricket history’s most decorated captains after leading Australia to one ICC Cricket World Cup (2022), four ICC Women’s T20 World Cup wins (2014, 2018, 2020, and 2023), and a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.

On March 8, 2020, in front of 86,174 spectators at the MCG in Melbourne, Lanning claimed the T20 World Cup, marking the apex of her illustrious international career.

Earlier this year, in front of a raucous crowd at Newlands in Cape Town, Lanning led Australia to the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup victory in what ended up being her last game in the green and gold.

“On behalf of Australian Cricket, I would like to congratulate Meg on her incredible career as an Australian cricketer and all that she has achieved as captain of the Australian women’s cricket team,” said Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley.

“Meg is one of the best cricket players Australia has ever produced; her outstanding feats at the bat are matched by her motivating leadership. Meg has been one of the greatest players in the world for a very long time. She has led a generation that has revolutionized the game and left an incalculable legacy.

“Under Meg’s direction, the Australian women’s cricket team has established a legacy of international domination, grown the sport, and served as an inspiration to cricket players worldwide.

“We thank Meg for her immense contribution and her retirement from international cricket. She is a seven-time World Cup winner and gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games.”