“It’s either more or you sort of don’t go there at all because I think once every so often is pretty difficult as a player.” Meg Lanning speaks about the future of the red-ball cricket.
The former Australian legend and skipper Meg Lanning recently announced her retirement from International cricket on 9th November 2023. Her sudden announcement to call it a time on her glorious international career, send a shock wave across the cricket fraternity.
However, she will continue to play at the domestic level and will also be available for the 2nd edition representing the Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
The 33-year-old wicket-keeper batter Alyssa Healy was appointed as the new full-time skipper to succeed Meg Lanning across all three formats. An all-format away series against India was skipper Alyssa Healy’s maiden assignment as a full-time skipper of the Australian Women’s team.
The hosts, India led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur sealed a historic victory by 8 wickets against Australia. It was their maiden victory against Australia in the red-ball format. The new Australian skipper Alyssa Healy called for a three-match Test series to be introduced into the women’s game after the loss to India.
A few months after former skipper Meg Lanning’s retirement, she expressed her views on the future of the red-ball format. “If you really want the games to be a good contest and more nations to play and players to understand the game a little bit more, I think we probably need to play more. Or you go the other way and you don’t play any at all and you focus on the short-format stuff.” former skipper Meg Lanning speaks about adopting the all-or-nothing approach when it comes to the red-ball format.
The Australian team is currently hosting South Africa for an all-format series that also includes a one-off Test match. The Test match will commence on 15th February 2024 and conclude on 18th February 2024. The nations like India, England, and South Africa alongside Australia have shown keen interest in the red-ball format. On the other hand, teams like New Zealand, and West Indies haven’t played a Test match since 2004.
“The last time any sides met for a Test series was when England hosted India for two matches in 2006, but not since 1998 has a three-Test series been played.” Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia Chief Executive backed the inclusion of more women’s Test matches and speaks about the last time a Test series was played in Women’s cricket.
(Quotes sourced from EspnCricinfo)
