Megastar Meg Lanning - The GOAT of Women's Cricket?

When we talk about the best captains in cricket history, a lot of us think of players like Ricky Ponting or MS Dhoni. Ricky Ponting led one of the most dominant Australian teams in the world, while MS Dhoni is the only captain in the world to win three ICC Trophies. But what if we say that these trophies just aren’t enough to etch your name as one of the greatest captains in cricket history? The best captain in the world has to be Meg Lanning, the legendary female cricket player from Australia, who’s has led her team to not one, not two, but 5 ICC Trophies across the ODI and T20 formats. And it’s also not just her captaincy, her greatness with the bat too puts her up there as one of the GOATs of women’s cricket.

In this chapter by ZAP, let's learn more about Meg Lanning, her career, her stats and figure out what makes her so legendary. 

Meg Lanning’s Early Life

Meg Lanning was born on 25th March 1992 and her age is 32 years old. She was born in Singapre but soon moved to Sydney, Australia. At the age of 10, she started playing cricket as a young girl, and since then she has never looked back. She started as a right hand batter and also bowled right arm medium pacer at times. At her junior level, she even played alongside her international teammate, Ellyse Perry. Along with cricket, Lanning had keen interest in hockey; she played the sport at junior level too. 

Meg Lanning: International Cricket Debut, Career and Stats

Lanning made her first international appearance on 30th December, 2010 for her T20 debut. She made her ODI debut on 5th January, 2011 against England. Later in 2013, she made her Test Cricket debut against England on 11th August, 2013. 

At 18 years, 288 days, Lanning became the youngest Australian centurion, scoring 103* in 118 balls against arch rivals England. She also became the first Australian player to score 2000 T20I runs. She holds the record for most centuries in WODIs, having 15 tons by her name. In November 2020, she was nominated for Rachael Haynes Flint Award for ICC Female Cricketer of the decade and awards for Women’s ODI and T20 cricketer of the year. 

Lanning was awarded Women’s ODI Cricketer of the year in 2015 and Women’s T20 Cricketer of the year in 2014. She was also awarded Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the world in 2015. Australian Cricket Board recognised Lanning’s contribution by awarding her Belinda Clark Award in 2014 and 2015. 

Meg Lanning announced her early retirement on November 9, 2023, at the age of 31. Other players are usually in the middle of their career at this age, but Lanning took the road less taken and bid farewell to international cricket at this young age. 

Meg Lanning Stats:

Meg Lanning, the Australian legend, has been a consistent performer across all formats. In Tests, she has accumulated 345 runs with a highest score of 93, averaging 31.36. In the WODI format, she has been even more prolific, scoring 4602 runs at an impressive batting average of 53.51, including 15 centuries and 21 half-centuries. Her T20I record is also remarkable, with 3405 runs at an average of 36.61. In total, Meg Lanning has scored 15 international centuries, the most by any player in the world. Lanning's ability to score big runs and her consistency across formats make her one of the best batter in women’s cricket in the world.

Meg Lanning - Captaincy Style and Records:

Records speak volumes about Meg Lanning’s leadership. Apart from her success in the big ICC events, Lanning was a great captain in bilateral series as well. Her side set the streak of 26 successive ODI wins. Under her captaincy, Australia won gold in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, beating India by a small margin. India were dominant in that game, but the Australians held their nerves and ultimately clinched gold. It is evident that Lanning has always been a tremendous leader. She always guided her teammates on how to absorb the pressure and excel. On any given day, if the top order failed to perform, the middle order would come up and strike. If batters used to fail, bowlers used to stand and defend the target. At times of crisis, she was always seen backing her teammates. Such was the environment Lanning managed to create in the Australian dressing room.

Meg Lanning - The Delhi Capitals Captain in the WPL

Meg Lanning was bought for ₹1.1 crore by Delhi Capitals in WPL and she was later declared as the captain of the team. The essence of her captaincy was also felt in this tournament, as in both the seasons she led her team to the finals. Her individual performance was also good in the 2023 season, as she grabbed the orange cap by scoring the most runs in the tournament. She finished with a tally of 345 runs in 9 matches in the 2023 season and carried her team to the WPL Final, where they fell short to reach the title against Mumbai Indians’ Women’s Team. In the 2024 edition too, DC seemed strong the in league stage, reaching the finals yet again. But this time too, DC perished against Smriti Mandhana’s Royal Challengers Bangalore Women’s Team. 

Though her team hasn’t won it yet, her individual performances have been incredible. In the 18 matches she has played, Meg Lanning has scored a total of 676 runs at an impressive average of 42.25 and a remarkable strike rate of 130.75. She has recorded six half-centuries with a highest score of 72 against RCB. Her consistency and ability to score important runs has made her one of the premier batters in the tournament.

Conclusion:

Meg Lanning will continue to remain as one of the best players in history of women's cricket even after her retirement. The legacy that she has left behind, with her stats, captaincy style and the trophies that she has won, she truly will remain as one of the best ever.

Now that you have read about Meg Lanning, here are some more articles we recommend you to read:

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