Australia captain Meg Lanning has announced her international retirement after 13 years at the highest level of cricket.
Lanning, 31, is Australia women’s greatest run scorer and won seven World Cups, including five as skipper.
“The decision to step away from international cricket was a difficult one to make, but I feel now is the right time for me,” Lanning said.
She represented Australia in 241 matches, scoring a combined 8,352 runs.
Lanning scored 17 centuries across six Tests, 103 ODIs and 132 T20I, averaging 53.21 in one-day games. Her absence from the tour of England followed a break from cricket for her mental health in 2022, before she returned in February 2023 to lead her side to victory at the T20 World Cup.
“It’s been my life essentially for 13 years, and I know nothing other than that,” Lanning said.
“I’ve learned so much and had so many incredible opportunities to do that, and I’m sad that it’s finishing up but I’m very much ready for something new.
“It’s time to move on and go on and experience other things other than playing cricket which I’m really excited about.”
Lanning will continue to play in domestic competitions, including the ongoing Women’s Big Bash League with the Melbourne Stars, and for Victoria in the Women’s National Cricket League.
(BBC sport)
