Australian all-format skipper, Meg Lanning has been granted an indefinite break by Cricket Australia (CA) to have time away from the game citing personal reasons. The decision from Meg Lanning has come days after adding a feather more to her decorated crown of wins at global tournaments.
Meg Lanning, 30, is one of Australia’s and cricket’s greats who’s led her side to many ICC trophy wins and over the last two-and-a-half years she’s helped Australia win a couple of T20I World Cups, an ODI World Cup, a home Ashes series and the most recent being Australia finishing on the top of the podium clinching Gold at the Commonwealth Games.
Cricket Australia’s, head of performance, Shawn Flegler has said, “We’re proud of Meg for acknowledging that she needs a break and will continue to support her during this time.
“She’s been an incredible contributor to Australian cricket over the last decade, achieving remarkable feats both individually and as part of the team, and has been a brilliant role model for young kids.
“The welfare of our players is always our number one priority, and we’ll continue to work with Meg to ensure she gets the support and space she needs.”
Meg Lanning in her statement has said, “After a busy couple of years, I’ve made the decision to take a step back to enable me to spend time focusing on myself. I’m grateful for the support of CA and my teammates and ask that my privacy is respected during this time.”
After the recent resignation of Matthew Mott from the team’s role as head coach, for Australia now to be without their longtime skipper and one of Australia’s best batters in the XI is surely a huge blow for the side. Interim head coach, Shelley Nitschke has had a good start to her coaching stint having just guided the team to win Gold at the Commonwealth Games and eyes now will be on who do Australia opt to lead the side in regular skipper, Meg Lanning’s absence.
Australia have a big home summer schedule of domestic cricket coming up and that makes it to be the right time for Meg Lanning to have taken the break as the side’s next international series is scheduled to be played at the end of the year in December and will be hoping to be refreshed both mentally and physically to take the field eyeing the buildup towards the T20 World Cup that’s to be played early next year in February in South Africa.