Record-breaking Australian women’s captain Meg Lanning has announced her retirement from international cricket after winning seven World Cup titles during a 241-match career.
The 31-year-old top-order batter, who led Australia to four Twenty20 World Cup titles, one 50-over World Cup triumph and a Commonwealth Games gold, said she had “nothing left to achieve” as she announced her decision on Thursday.
Her exploits as a batter and captain earned her the nickname “Megastar”, while off the pitch, she played a crucial role in highlighting the gender pay gap in men’s and women’s professional cricket.
She amassed 8,352 runs in international cricket after making her debut in 2010. That total included 17 centuries and 38 half-centuries.
After 13 years of international cricket and having captained her country on 182 occasions, Lanning said it was the “right time to move on to something new”.
“I have achieved so much within the game and been lucky enough to have such a successful career and be part of very successful teams,” a tearful Lanning told reporters at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“I guess I feel like now I’ve got nothing left to achieve on the international stage.
“I can’t be half-in or half-out with anything and I guess that’s where I’ve landed with this decision.
“I no longer have the spark or the motivation to do what needs to happen at this level and so for me it is time to move on.”
An emotional Lanning broke down in tears when she thanked her father Wayne and mother Sue, who attended their daughter’s farewell news conference. Lanning was born in Singapore when her father was a banker there.
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