Meg Lanning, the seven-time World Cup champion, says her retirement from international cricket “hasn’t sunk in yet” as she gets ready to celebrate this weekend at the Adelaide Oval with former vice-captain Rachael Haynes.
When Lanning declared her sudden retirement from international cricket in November of last year, the world was taken aback. She had played for 13 incredible years in green and gold.
Following her unspecified medical leave from the Ashes tour, Australia’s most prolific run scorer in all forms announced her retirement after winning three Belinda Clark Awards.
Since her retirement, the Australian public hasn’t had the opportunity to properly commemorate her, and Lanning says she wants to thank everyone who has supported her during her career and say farewell.
She will get the opportunity on Saturday at the opening One-Day International (ODI) against South Africa, when Haynes and she will be honored for their leadership, on-field accomplishments, and contributions to the women’s game.
Lanning, who is currently averaging an incredible 106 for Victoria in the one-day competition, is still a dominant force in the WNCL and hasn’t let the enormity of her decision or her accomplishments in the sport sink in just yet.
She said that she has struck a “fairly good balance” between work and life. “It’s a little strange because I’m still playing, so until I stop playing completely, it probably won’t sink in,” she remarked.
The past few months have been different since I’ve had a little more time to spend with friends and family and to reflect.
“I’ve relished that, as I went through a fairly busy time.”
I threw everything into my profession and enjoyed every second of it, but eventually I ran out of energy to devote to it.
“I think I didn’t have the commitment levels necessary to play for the Australian team anymore, so I walked away and had a little more time to focus on other things, and that’s been wonderful.
“I might properly look back at the key moments and the special times that I achieved over the next couple of months when things are a little bit quieter.”
Lanning has relished avoiding the limelight, as have so many previous leaders. However, on Saturday, she won’t have the opportunity as Cricket Australia is planning a lap of honor, a presentation during the innings break, and a guard of honour.
As the Adelaide supporters get to honor two of Australia’s greatest cricket players, Haynes will be by her side the entire time.
“I think neither of us wants the spotlight too much, so it’ll be nice to have Rach there with me,” Lanning remarked.
“We tried to lead the group as much as we could and worked really hard together over a period of time to build the culture within the team.”
Due to Lanning’s performance after declaring her retirement, there have been increasing requests for her to change her mind; these would have intensified if Australia had lost the Twenty20 series against South Africa.
The hosts recovered to win 2-1, giving them a commanding lead in the multi-format series, but Lanning acknowledges she missed all of the action.
“I haven’t watched any of it, but I know the results—it’s pretty hard to escape that,” she remarked.
To be honest, I don’t watch a lot of cricket.
“It’s good that I stay in touch with some of the females, but I’ve let that series end, so this Saturday’s game will be the first I’ve seen in a long time.
“South Africa is a really strong opponent that is getting better. It will be a fair competition because they have some pretty dangerous players.”
BY HHM