NEW DELHI: Australian women's team captain Meg Lanning announced her retirement from international cricket on Thursday, concluding a stellar career as one of the game's most prolific run-scorers and accomplished leaders.
The 31-year-old top-order batter, dubbed 'Megastar' for her run-scoring prowess, steered Australia to four Twenty20 World Cup titles, a 50-over World Cup triumph and a Commonwealth Games gold medal.
After 13 years in international cricket, during which she captained her country 182 times, Lanning expressed that it was the "right time to move on to something new."
Reflecting on her achievements, Lanning stated, "Team success is why you play the game. I'm proud of what I have been able to achieve and will cherish the moments shared with teammates along the way."
Cricket Australia's chief executive, Nick Hockley, lauded Lanning as "one of the finest cricketers Australia has produced" and "one of the best players in the world over a long period of time."
"Under Meg's leadership, the Australian women's cricket team has built a legacy of global dominance and has been at the forefront of growing the game and inspiring the next generation of cricketers all around the world," he added.
Lanning holds the record for the most one-day centuries by any woman and is the leading run-scorer for the Australian women's team.
Lanning's captaincy saw Australia achieve a record-winning streak of 26 consecutive one-day games between 2018 and 2021.
Beyond her on-field accomplishments, Lanning played a pivotal role in shedding light on the gender pay gap in men's and women's professional cricket.
After a six-month break focused on personal growth, Lanning returned to the Australian team in January, securing victory at the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa and guiding Delhi Capitals to the final of the inaugural Women's Premier League in India.
While retiring from international cricket, Lanning is set to continue playing in domestic competitions, as confirmed by Cricket Australia.
(With AFP inputs)
