Australia and South Africa will play three women’s ODI matches against one another. The first game is on Saturday, February 3, at the Adelaide Oval.
A ceremonial lap of the historic field in honor of Australian icons Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes will take place before the game. After ending her playing career in 2022, the latter adopted new identities. She started off as a television pundit before taking on the role of head of the Sydney Sixers’ BBL and WBBL teams. Lanning, meanwhile, is still playing for the Delhi Capitals in the WPL, the Melbourne Stars in the WBBL, and Victoria in the WNCL, despite having resigned from all forms of international cricket last year.
Meg Lanning, a gold medalist from the Commonwealth Games and a member of seven World Cup-winning teams, stated that she aims to win the WNCL with Victoria. The right-handed hitter said she hasn’t given herself a deadline to retire from all forms of cricket and that she intends to play as long as she thinks she can contribute to the Victoria team.
Meg Lanning told cricket.com.au, “I’ve never won a WNCL title with Victoria, which is something I’d love to do at some point,” following Victoria’s two wins against the South Australia Scorpions this week in Adelaide, which helped the team move up to third place on the WNCL points table.
“I haven’t given much attention to the future beyond this season. I’ve always loved playing for Victoria, though, so maybe I’ll stick with it if I can continue to benefit the team both on and off the field,” she continued.
Regarding the public farewell she will receive, Meg Lanning said it feels almost unreal to be able to thank her old teammates and fans while still competing on the local circuit.
Meg Lanning has been putting on a show in the WNCL. She has amassed 424 runs, the highest average (106) in the current edition, and she appears good for many more.
Meg Lanning talks about her life after retiring from the world.
The 31-year-old said that she lacked the stamina to handle the demands of competing on a global scale and maintaining the degree of dedication necessary to play for a top-tier team like Australia. Rather, she is relishing her time spent mentoring the younger players within the Victorian establishment and, when her turn comes, using the willow.
“I’ve liked showing up to play without giving it much thought. Every game I’ve played, as far as I can remember, has been filled with pressure and expectations. As an Australian player, you even feel pressure to perform well and make the most of your time when you return to state cricket. I enjoyed every second of it, but I gave my profession my all and eventually ran out of steam. Additionally, playing for that Australian squad demands a huge level of dedication, according to Meg Lanning.
“It’s like I didn’t really have that anymore, so it’s been good to step back and have a little more time to concentrate on other things. I can now try to support other players as much as I can and be a little more laid-back, and that’s what I’ve really appreciated about playing for the Victorian squad. We have a good number of young girls in there, so it’s been good to discuss some of my experiences and consider them from their point of view. When it’s my turn, I can just walk out there and bat,” she continued.
Meg Lanning acknowledged Haynes, who served as the national team’s vice captain at one point, for her achievements as captain.
She helped me a lot and was a valuable member of our team for a long time. Without her there to cover for me in the areas I missed, I never would have been the leader or been as successful as I was. I’m definitely looking forward to celebrating with Haynes this weekend since she’s a special part of my career both on and off the field,” Meg Lanning said of Haynes.
The Singaporean-born player stated that she would like to try out different sports and take a break from cricket after retirement. She did, however, say that she would eventually go back to cricket.
“I believe that my connection to cricket will never fade. Since I adore the game and it has played such a significant role in my life, I anticipate incorporating it into everything I do. However, Lanning stated, “I would definitely like to spend some time outside of the cricket bubble and take in some other sports.
It would be interesting to observe how they work and gain some experience there, but I’m not sure precisely what that would entail. I’m just going with the flow and trying out a few various things; I don’t have any definite intentions. It’s all-consuming and I’ve done it for a long time, so I suppose I’ll return to cricket in some form or another, but for now, I’d want to take a break and see what life’s like outside of the cricket bubble. Thus, something new would be pleasant, “Meg Lanning concluded.
India
