Meg Lanning announcement sparks flood of tributes from around cricket world

Cricket fans are flooding social media with reaction to the sad news that Aussie women's champion Meg Lanning has announced her retirement from international cricket. The 31-year-old has won seven World Cups with Australia and is considered one of the greatest women to have ever played the sport.

Lanning will continue playing in the WBBL and the Women's National Cricket League but has decided to hang up the gloves for Australia after a career that is unparalleled in the country. As well as the former Aussie's captain's staggering seven World Cup triumphs in multiple formats, she is also a three-time winner of the Belinda Clark Medal awarded to the nation's best female cricketer.

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A mainstay in Australia's batting order, Lanning amassed 8,352 runs from 241 international matches in an extraordinary career for the green and gold. She led Australia in 182 matches, more than any other women's player, and captained the team to five World Cup crowns.

"The decision to step away from international cricket was a difficult one to make, but I feel now is the right time for me," Lanning said. "I've been incredibly fortunate to enjoy a 13-year international career, but I know now is the right time for me to move on to something new.

"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. I’d like to thank my family, my teammates, Cricket Victoria, Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association for their support to allow me to play the game I love at the highest level.

“I also want to say a huge thank you to all the fans who have supported me throughout my international career.” Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said Lanning helped "revolutionise" the women's game in Australia and said the champion batter made an “immeasurable impact” on cricket around the world.

“One of the finest cricketers Australia has produced, Meg’s supreme achievements with the bat have been matched by her inspiring leadership,” Hockley said.

“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.”We look forward to celebrating Meg’s distinguished international career at an appropriate time.”

Cricket world celebrates Meg Lanning's epic career

One of the all-time greats of women's cricket, Lanning announced she was taking a break from the sport in 2022 after Australia's ODI World Cup triumph and Commonwealth Games gold medal in Birmingham. She announced she would miss the WBBL season and embark on an international holiday to explore some alternative career options.

Following her brief hiatus from the sport, Lanning returned to captain the Aussie side to their sixth T20 World Cup triumph in 2023 - a feat that saw the team lauded as the greatest the sport has ever seen. It was the fourth white-ball World Cup victory in succession for the Aussie women's side, dating back to 2018.

After missing the Ashes in England earlier this year over health concerns, Lanning is back playing for the Melbourne Stars in the WBBL and is in line to feature in the Women's Premier League in India. However, the legendary Aussie batter's decision to stand down from international duty for Australia has sparked an outpouring of messages from around the cricket world.

with AAP

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