Former Australian captain Meg Lanning has turned 32 today. She is one of the greatest ever to play women’s cricket. A successful captain and a legendary batter, Lanning did everything possible to be registered as one of the greats of the game. Throughout her career, she remained at the top of her game and also made Australia the most dominating side in world cricket.
Meg Lanning made her international debut in 2010 when she played her first T20I game against New Zealand. It was a quick ascent for Lanning as she soon became a part of the team in other formats as well. She played her maiden One-Day international in 2011 against the arch-rivals England at Perth.
Right from the beginning of her career, she was a consistent batter who would step up for the team whenever it was needed. Her batting prowess made her a regular part of the team in all formats of the game. She went on to make her Test debut in 2013 when she played her first Test match against England.
The Megastar
Meg Lanning was the best batter for her team and soon she evolved into a leader as well. She was handed over the captaincy and Lanning fitted into that role perfectly. The gifted right-hander played 6 Test matches for Australia where she scored 345 runs. Her ODI career was an extraordinary phase for Australian cricket. In the ODI format, she represented Australia 103 times and amassed 4602 runs at an incredible average of 53.51.
She also had a wealth of experience in T20I cricket. Lanning had 3405 runs to her name in 132 games in the shortest format. Not just as a player but she was equally generational for her leadership skills as well. Under her leadership, Australia won several major titles and consistently dominated other teams. She recently announced her retirement from international cricket but is still one of the most sought-after players.