When it comes to notable cricket legacies, most people’s thoughts go in one direction: Meg Lanning. One of the most successful cricket captains and batters in history, Lanning took the world by storm ever since she was a teenager. Her life was a collection of defining chapters that created the prodigy, bringing us a star that many look up to.
Lanning retired from international cricket but remains active in domestic events such as Twenty20 and WPL. Many of the latest betting odds feature her chances of success during these matches, but some also wager on her potential return to international championships. Learn more about the defining chapters that not only transformed Lanning’s career, but also women’s cricket overall.
The Early Years of a Prodigy
Meg Lanning’s dabbles with cricket started when she was barely a preteen and playing with cricket bats. At age 10, however, she would start playing in organized teams, where she accomplished the following milestones:
1st Chapter: Growing into the Boy’s Club
Growing up in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, there weren’t any competitive cricket teams for girls that Lanning could join. As such, she was often the only girl competing alongside the boys in the local cricket team. While she was at the Carey Baptist Grammar School, she was the first girl to compete in the Associated Public Schools of Victoria (APS) event, showing the world her aggressive, fearless batting style.
2nd Chapter: The 2010 International Debut
For the first few years, Lanning showed potential while playing in the domestic events. However, at age 18, she took her first step onto the international scene. There, she represented Australia in T20I, where she went against New Zealand and scored 10 runs. This gained her a four-wicket victory that made Australia proud.
3rd Chapter: Breaking the Record in 2011 against England
Shortly after Lanning’s debut in the ODIs, the rising star went against England at WACA and hammered a total of 103 from 118 balls. Lanning was a few dozen days shy of her 19th birthday, but on that day, she succeeded in becoming the youngest international centurion that Australia ever had. That title was previously held by Ricky Ponting, who was just a few days past 21.
4th Chapter: Getting the First World Cup Title in 2012
Lanning was already famous by 2012, but she only got her first dose of global success when she took part in the 2012 ICC Women’s World Twenty20. Held in Sri Lanka, she finished the tournament by becoming the third-highest run scorer. That day, she made herself known as one of the most powerful batters in cricket.
The Era of a Captain and Record Breaker
At 21 years old, Lanning was on a roll of success far stronger than any other of her generation. The World Cup was a stepping stone, which allowed her to aim even higher and succeed in the following chapters:
5th Chapter: Becoming Captain of the National Team in 2014
Captain Jodie Fields suffered a series of injuries and illnesses in 2014 that included a broken finger, a hamstring injury, and a bout with appendicitis. She was forced to step out as a result, causing Lanning to take her place as captain of the team. Lanning was originally named interim captain, as she was still “green” in comparison to other players, but her leadership skills started shining shortly after. She would soon be given the position full-time.
6th Chapter: First Trophy in 2014 as Captain
Only a few months after becoming captain, Lanning competed in the 2014 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in Bangladesh. There, she shattered a new record of 126 runs with 65 balls when going against Ireland. Her team would defeat England soon after, winning the first World Cup trophy with her as captain.
7th Chapter: Reached World’s No.1 in 2015
Lanning’s consistent batting led her to gradually make her way into the ICC Player Rankings. In 2015, she ranked No. 1 for both the T20Is and the ODIs. She was also the first to hold the title of “Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the World” for her performances.
8th Chapter: First Appearance in ODI World Cup as Captain in 2017
Despite bringing a trophy home after the 50-over World Cup in 2013, she only led her team into an ODI World Cup back in 2017. Even as she was dealing with a chronic shoulder injury, she scored 152 against Sri Lanka before the team exited in the semifinals.
9th Chapter: Securing Another T20 World Cup Triumph in 2018
After surgery and recovering from her shoulder injury, Lanning took the captain reins back and took Australia into the West Indies ICC Women’s World T20 of 2018. She used tactical precision to win against her opponents and finished with an 8-wicket victory that helped her take back the crown.
10th Chapter: The Historic T20 World Cup Win at the MCG
On March 8, 2020, Lanning took her team and represented Australia in front of 86,174 spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The pressure was high, but she managed an 85-run victory against India with her team, which led to her lifting the T20 World Cup that year.
The Undefeated Champion
Records were broken, but Lanning never stopped. Below are the later success milestones of the undefeated champion.
11th Chapter: 26 Consecutive ODI Wins by 2021
Under Lanning’s leadership, the Australian women’s cricket team was on a dominating roll. Between 2018 and 2021, her team won 26 consecutive ODIs, which broke Ricky Ponting’s record of 21.
12th Chapter: Earning the Commonwealth Games Gold Medal
Women’s T20 cricket made its debut in 2022 at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Lanning led the Australian team to a 9-run victory against India at Edgbaston, securing the first gold medal in women’s cricket at the event.
13th Chapter: Becoming the Undefeated ODI World Cup Champion in 2022
Lanning added one more ODI success to her resume, leading her team into the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. Her leadership helped them stay undefeated against New Zealand and England, winning by 71 runs in the finals.
14th Chapter: Earning Her Fifth T20 Crown in 2023
Later in 2023, Lanning’s team represented Australia in South Africa at the T20 World Cup. They defeated the hosts in Cape Town, which earned her the fifth T20 crown as captain.
15th Chapter: Announcing Retirement from International Cricket in 2023
On November 9, 2023, at age 31, Meg Lanning announced her retirement from international cricket. She cited health issues that prompted her to step down and focus on both her physical and mental health. The former captain ended with 241 international matches, 17 international centuries, 8,352 runs, and 7 World Cup titles.
Under Lanning’s leadership, Australia made all the maps when it comes to women’s cricket. She may be taking a step back today, but her legacy remains strong.
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