She led her side to unprecedented success winning five T20 World Cup titles, two 50-over World Cups and a Commonwealth Games gold medal over her 241-match career.
Lanning’s legacy was cemented in Australian cricket well before she announced her retirement from the international scene on Thursday, and one that deserves to be etched on the same board as other great Australia captains like Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley praised Lanning saying she “led a generation which has helped revolutionise the game.”
“One of the finest cricketers Australia has produced, Meg’s supreme achievements with the bat have been matched by her inspiring leadership.
“Under Meg’s leadership, the Australian women’s cricket team has built a legacy of global dominance and has been at the forefront of growing the game and inspiring the next generation of cricketers all around the world.”
Lanning’s statistics speak for themselves. She amassed 8,352 runs in all formats which included 17 centuries and 38 half-centuries over a 13-year career.
Lanning made her debut on December 6, 2008, scoring three runs for Victoria in a win against the South Australian Scorpions at the Adelaide Oval, where she was almost timed out because she decided to redo her hair.
But perhaps that perfectly encapsulates the calmness Lanning embodied as a player and a captain. She would often arrive at the crease when Australia were in danger, soak up the pressure, play her brilliant cut shot into the offside and lead her side to multiple victories.
Lanning consistently outdid herself. She famously brought an end to England’s unbeaten record at Chelmsford in 2019 where she hit the highest score in a Women’s T20 international – breaking her own record – as Australia clinched the Women’s Ashes series outright.
